Rome/Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondents Min Kyung-rak and Lee Do-yeon = Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome, Italy on the 15th (local time) and agreed to strengthen the supply chain, including in the semiconductor, core minerals, and advanced technology sectors.
According to Japanese media and Reuters, Prime Minister Takaichi and Prime Minister Meloni agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of economic security and decided to materialize cooperation according to the memorandum of understanding signed by the two governments.
The leaders of the two countries decided to strengthen cooperation not only in economic security areas, such as stockpiling key minerals such as rare earths and strengthening the energy supply chain, but also in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI)-based robots, semiconductors, bio, and space.
In the semiconductor field, we plan to expand cooperation between Japanese semiconductor company Lapidus, which aims to mass produce cutting-edge semiconductors, and Italian semiconductor design companies.
In the space field, we decided to achieve results in space debris measures and satellite data cooperation, and to pursue multilateral consultations to establish space-related rules.
They also confirmed their policy to accelerate the 'Global Combat Air Program' (GCAP), a joint development plan for next-generation fighter aircraft being pursued by three countries, including the two countries and the UK.
The two leaders also agreed to cooperate and respond to regional situations in East Asia, including China and North Korea.
On this day, Prime Minister Takaichi also expressed expectations about the world's longest Sicilian suspension bridge project involving Japanese companies.
Prime Minister Takaichi said after the meeting, "I sincerely hope that the Messina Strait Bridge construction project involving Japanese companies will become a landmark symbolizing economic cooperation between the two countries."
He added, “I hope Japan’s expertise and experience will help implement the project early.”
The Sicilian Bridge project, which passes through the Strait of Messina, is the world's longest bridge construction project, with an investment of 13.5 billion euros (about 23 trillion won). The total length is 3,666m, and the distance between the main towers is 3,300m. This project is being led by the Eurolink consortium, in which Japanese companies participate.
The Italian government has been promoting the construction of a bridge since 1969 with the aim of reducing the chronic gap between rich and poor between the south and the north, but has not been able to speed up the process due to environmental pollution and safety reasons.
The right-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister Meloni revived the plan in 2022 and formalized its implementation, but the National Audit Office put the brakes on it in October last year due to cost issues. Prosecutors in Rome are also investigating a situation in which audit opinions on construction projects were not prepared transparently.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Takaichi said, "While being conscious of the connection between the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, we will cooperate with our comrade Italy to make the entire region stronger and richer together."
The two leaders also announced that they welcomed the agreement ending the war between the United States and Iran and confirmed the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the meeting was evaluated as an opportunity for the two countries to coordinate their positions ahead of the G7 summit.
Prime Minister Meloni referred to Russia's attack on the Pechersk Lavra (Cave Monastery), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ukraine, and emphasized, "We need resolute support for Kiev in a situation where even Christian symbols with thousands of years of history cannot escape attacks."
