Assembly speaker to embark on 4-nation trip to Europe

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik was scheduled to embark on a four-nation European tour beginning Tuesday, aimed at discussing economic and industrial cooperation. The trip would span nine days, taking him to Italy, Vatican City, Croatia, and Greece. This would be Cho's first overseas visit since assuming office in June.

During his visit to Italy, Cho was set to meet with Lorenzo Fontana, president of the Chamber of Deputies, and Gian Marco Centinaio, vice president of the Senate. The purpose of these meetings was to explore opportunities for enhancing parliamentary exchanges and bolstering economic and industrial cooperation between the two nations.

In Vatican City, Cho had planned to engage in discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's secretary of state, and Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik. The meetings were intended to reaffirm Cho's commitment to supporting the upcoming World Youth Day 2027, for which South Korea was set to serve as host. Cho also intended to seek the Vatican's ongoing support for peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula and to encourage the resumption of dialogue between South and North Korea.

Cho's itinerary then led him to Croatia, where he would continue his diplomatic engagements during the final leg of his European journey. Specific details about the meetings in Croatia were not provided in the source material.