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South Korea assembly speaker Cho begins nine-day European tour of Italy, Vatican, Croatia, Greece
Коротко
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik left Seoul on Oct. 6 for a 7-night, 9-day official visit to Italy, the Vatican, Croatia and Greece — his first overseas trip since taking office. The itinerary centres on parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in infrastructure, digital transition, renewables, small modular reactors, defence, shipping and shipbuilding. Four lawmakers from the ruling and main opposition parties are travelling with him.
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National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik left Seoul on Oct. 6 for a 7-night, 9-day official visit to Italy and the Vatican, Croatia and Greece, his first overseas trip since taking office, Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. The trip runs to Oct. 14 and is built around meetings with parliamentary leaders and government officials on economic and industrial cooperation. [ 1 , 2 ]
In Italy on Oct. 7, Cho is scheduled to meet Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana and Senate Vice President Gianmarco Centinaio. According to Yonhap, the talks will cover expanding parliamentary exchanges and economic and industrial cooperation, and will look at ways to support Korean companies' entry into infrastructure, digital transition and renewable energy projects, building on a bilateral relationship upgraded to a “special strategic partnership.” [ 1 , 2 ]
At the Vatican, Cho plans to meet Secretariat of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal You Heung-sik. Both outlets say he will convey the National Assembly's willingness to support the Seoul World Youth Day — Yonhap calls it next year's event, Asia Economy dates it to 2027. Yonhap reports he will also ask for the Vatican's continued interest in and support for peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia and for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue, and will discuss expanded cooperation in peace and humanitarian affairs. [ 1 , 2 ]
In Croatia on Oct. 9, Cho is to meet President Zoran Milanović, Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in succession. On the basis of what the documents describe as a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership, the discussions are to cover manufacturing and advanced industry, energy including small modular reactors, and the defence industry. Asia Economy adds that cultural and tourism exchanges are also on the agenda. [ 1 , 2 ]
In Greece on Oct. 12, the speaker is scheduled to meet President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis. Yonhap says the visit aims to reinforce traditional friendly ties rooted in Greece's participation in the Korean War, and that Cho will seek to deepen cooperation in shipping, shipbuilding and defence with a country it describes as a major shipowning nation, and will request cooperation in resolving difficulties faced by Korean companies operating locally. Talks are also expected to cover electric vehicles, batteries, and solar and wind energy. Asia Economy reports that the Greece leg coincides with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. [ 1 , 2 ]
Democratic Party lawmakers Han Jung-ae and Hwang Hee and People Power Party lawmakers Choi Hyung-du and Kang Min-kuk are travelling with the speaker, both outlets reported. Neither document reports any agreement signed or outcome reached, and the discussions described are still ahead. [ 1 , 2 ]
Почему это важно
The trip is the speaker's first overseas engagement since taking office and is framed by both outlets as a push to widen economic and industrial cooperation, including support for Korean firms entering these markets. As a parliamentary visit it carries no binding commitments, but the Vatican leg touches on inter-Korean dialogue and the Seoul World Youth Day, giving the tour a diplomatic dimension beyond trade.
Ключевые факты
- Speaker Cho Jung-sik departed on Oct. 6 for a 7-night, 9-day official visit to Italy and the Vatican, Croatia and Greece. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It is his first overseas trip since taking office as National Assembly speaker. [ 1 , 2 ]
- In Italy on Oct. 7 he is to meet Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana and Senate Vice President Gianmarco Centinaio. [ 1 , 2 ]
- At the Vatican he is to meet Secretariat of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal You Heung-sik, and will convey the assembly's intention to support the Seoul World Youth Day. [ 1 , 2 ]
- In Croatia on Oct. 9 he is to meet President Zoran Milanović, Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, with cooperation in manufacturing, advanced industry, small modular reactors, energy and defence on the agenda. [ 1 , 2 ]
- In Greece on Oct. 12 he is to meet President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, focusing on shipping, shipbuilding, defence and clean energy including electric vehicles, batteries, solar and wind. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Democratic Party lawmakers Han Jung-ae and Hwang Hee and People Power Party lawmakers Choi Hyung-du and Kang Min-kuk are travelling with him. [ 1 , 2 ]
- According to Asia Economy, the Greece leg coincides with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. [ 2 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Speaker Cho Jung-sik is on a 7-night, 9-day official visit to Italy, the Vatican, Croatia and Greece starting Oct. 6, his first overseas trip since taking office. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The visit focuses on expanding parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in economic and industrial fields. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Four lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the People Power Party are accompanying him. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Vatican programme includes conveying the National Assembly's support for the Seoul World Youth Day and asking for continued papal interest in peace on the Korean peninsula and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Energy and defence cooperation, including small modular reactors, is on the Croatia agenda, and shipping, shipbuilding and defence are on the Greece agenda. [ 1 , 2 ]
Пока неясно
- What agreements, memorandums or concrete outcomes the visit will produce. Both documents describe planned meetings and topics; neither reports any agreement to be signed or result, and the trip is still under way.
- The year of the Seoul World Youth Day. Yonhap refers to it as next year's event while Asia Economy dates it to 2027; the two descriptions are consistent with a 2027 date but the documents do not state it identically.
- Which Korean companies' difficulties in Greece the speaker will raise. Yonhap says he will request cooperation on resolving difficulties for Korean firms operating there, but no companies or issues are named.
- Whether the Vatican meetings will address anything beyond peace, humanitarian cooperation and the World Youth Day. Yonhap lists those topics; Asia Economy's account is limited to the World Youth Day and inter-Korean dialogue.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- Yonhap reports that Speaker Cho Jung-sik departed for Italy, the Vatican, Croatia and Greece on a 7-night, 9-day trip, his first overseas visit since taking office. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its account of the same itinerary, dating the trip Oct. 6 to Oct. 14. [ 2 ]
- Scheduled meetings in Italy with Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana and Senate Vice President Gianmarco Centinaio on parliamentary exchanges and economic and industrial cooperation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Scheduled meetings in Croatia with President Zoran Milanović, Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Scheduled meetings in Greece with President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis. [ 1 , 2 ]