S. Korean President Lee Hopes for Joint Efforts with Italy on Free Trade, Multilateralism

ROME, June 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Friday expressed hope that South Korea and Italy will work together to promote global free trade and multilateralism, during his talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Seoul's presidential office said.

Lee and Meloni met in the Italian capital to discuss bilateral cooperation during the South Korean president's ongoing state visit to Italy. It marked the two leaders' second meeting this year after they met in Seoul in January.

A day earlier, Lee and Italian President Sergio Mattarella held talks and agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership.

"We discussed last time that a rule-based international order is important. I hope both sides will make joint efforts to promote cooperation and development in areas, such as free trade and multilateralism," Lee was quoted by his office as saying in his opening remarks.

"It seems that establishing a new cooperation framework (between the two countries) is necessary," he added, stressing that this makes South Korea-Italy cooperation particularly meaningful.

He went on to say that the bilateral relationship is "mutually beneficial."

"I think we can create synergy through cooperation," he said, expressing hope that bilateral ties will continue to develop in a mutually beneficial manner.