Assembly speaker meets Italian parliamentary leaders, Vatican officials to discuss cooperation

The Korea Times - Oct 8, 2026

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has met with Italian parliamentary leaders and senior Vatican officials on his four-nation trip to Europe to discuss bilateral cooperation, his office said Thursday. During his meeting with Italian Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana in Rome on Wednesday (local time), Cho discussed ways to expand people-to-people and parliamentary exchanges and step up economic and industrial cooperation. "Following the elevation of the two countries' relations to a 'special strategic partnership,' cooperation has also expanded rapidly in future industries, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space and defense," Cho said. Cho also invited Fontana to visit Korea next year on the occasion of the country's hosting of World Youth Day 2027. Separately, the speaker met with Gian Marco Centinaio, vice president of the Italian Senate, to discuss expanding exchanges between the countries' parliaments and strengthening economic cooperation. "As the two countries are manufacturing powerhouses, we can become even stronger by combining our strengths," he

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