President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Italy on Wednesday local time, the second stop of his European trip to attend the G7 summit.
Air Force One, carrying Lee and his wife, touched down at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport that evening. Italy's ambassador to South Korea was among the officials on hand to welcome the president.
Lee will conduct a state visit to Italy from Thursday through Saturday. He is scheduled to hold summit talks with President Sergio Mattarella and to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for their third official meeting.
Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner within the EU and a key member of the EU, G7 and G20. The two countries share much in common — including geographic positions linking sea and land routes and export economies built on manufacturing — making Italy a central partner as South Korea seeks to extend its national-interest-driven pragmatic diplomacy into Europe.
Lee plans to adopt the "2026–2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan," a roadmap for bilateral relations, during the visit. He will also host a business roundtable bringing together companies in the semiconductor, aerospace, energy and biotech sectors to broaden the foundation for economic cooperation.
Discussions on cooperation in basic science, space and defense industries are also on the agenda. "We will lay the groundwork for elevating an advanced-technology partnership with Italy, a country with a storied tradition in science," a presidential office official said.
On Saturday, Lee will visit Florence — the heart of Renaissance culture — as a special gesture befitting a state guest. He is expected to meet the governor of Tuscany and the mayor of Florence to discuss ways to expand cultural exchanges and strengthen the global reach of Korean culture.
Vatican visits begin Sunday. Lee will attend a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul, then meet separately with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on Monday.
Through the Vatican visit, Lee intends to express South Korea's commitment to global peace and solidarity amid shifting international conditions and to secure the Holy See's support for that stance.
The visit will also serve as an opportunity to solidify cooperation between South Korea and the Vatican ahead of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul.
Lee will then travel to Évian, France, on Tuesday to attend the G7 summit, the final leg of his overseas tour.
sang@heraldcorp.com
