MILAN -- President Park Geun-hye urged Asian and European leaders on Thursday to support her Eurasia Initiative to strengthen the “physical connections” between the two continents, stressing that such regional cooperation could prevent North Korean provocations.

At the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting, held in Milan, Park said that the initiative could drive North Korea to open up to neighboring countries, which in turn could prod the communist regime to become a responsible member of the international community. 

The initiative calls for linking roads and railways across the continent to connect South Korea directly to Europe, through North Korea, Russia and China.

“It is in North Korea that the connection between the western and eastern halves of Eurasia is severed. Bridging this missing link is critical,” said Park at the second-round of the general session of the ASEM summit.

“Asia and Europe should redouble efforts to encourage North Korea to open its doors and choose the path to genuine change as soon as possible,” she said.

Park proposed to hold an international symposium next year to discuss ways to strengthen logistics and transportation cooperation with countries involved in linking roads and railways across the two continents.

The South Korean president also offered to expand a Korea-led Trans Eurasia Information Network to increase digital connections between ASEM member countries.

Park also called for international support to increase pressure on North Korea to improve its grave human rights situation.

“I believe North Korea should abandon its nuclear weapons, to unshutter itself, and uphold the human rights and enrich the lives of its people. It must choose the path to peace on the Korean Peninsula -- the sooner the better.

It was her first participation in ASEM since taking office early last year. The South Korean president has made frequent overseas trips in recent months, seeking international support for her vision of a unified Korea.

At the United Nations’ General Assembly last month, Park called for support to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons.

Through her trip to Italy, South Korea hopes to expand its role in the international community as a middle-power nation and to contribute to strengthening the role of ASEM, one of the largest regional cooperative bodies in the world.

Launched in Thailand in 1996, ASEM aims to strengthen interregional cooperation between Asia and Europe as the two continents’ ties had been relatively weak compared to those of Europe-North America and of Asia-North America. The number of ASEM member countries has grown to 51 from the inaugural 25. While the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation focuses more on economic issues, ASEM pursues broader cooperation, including social and cultural exchanges. In Milan, the South Korean government also proposed that ASEM member nations make a joint declaration for the next summit scheduled for 2016 on improving the social protection and human rights of the elderly, Cheong Wa Dae officials said.

On the sidelines of the summit, the president also held bilateral talks with leaders of China, France and Denmark. Park, however, did not meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe despite his request to hold talks this fall.

Korea and Japan have remained at odds on account of territorial and historical feuds. The issue of former sex slaves from Korea and other Asian countries conscripted during World War II has been one of the key sticking points in the frosty relations between the two countries.

After the ASEM summit, President Park will visit Rome on Friday to hold a summit with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The leaders of South Korea and Italy are expected to discuss ways to seek strategic partnerships in a wide range of fields including the economy, culture, and science and technology. In particular, the leaders will discuss ways to synergize Korea’s information technology with Italy’s global fashion brands to target the global market together, officials said.

Park also plans to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican to reciprocate his visit to South Korea in August. She is expected to thank the pope for his dedication in promoting world peace, and ask for his prayers for peace on the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided for more than 60 years.

Park returns Saturday.

By Cho Chung-un, Korea Herald correspondent (christory@heraldcorp.com)