South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov reached the agreement during summit talks in Seoul, sharing an understanding that enhancing economic cooperation is key to moving overall relations forward, the statement said.

Karimov arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a three-day state visit. This year marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Lee has held summit talks with Karimov every year since taking office in early 2008, and Thursday's summit was their sixth, Yonhap said.

Last year, the two countries signed a package of deals to develop the Surgil gas field near the Aral Sea and build a gas and chemicals plant in the largest-ever contract between South Korea and Uzbekistan since they forged diplomatic relations.

On Thursday, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in the Surgil gas-chemical plant construction and reaffirmed their commitment to provide maximum support for the project's success, according to the statement.

They also agreed to continue cooperation in Uzbekistan's ambitious plan to turn its Navoi airport in the southwestern part of the country into a regional logistics hub and create a free industrial and economic zone there, the statement said.

Uzbekistan also asked for South Korea's participation in a project to create a special industrial zone in Angren near the capital Tashkent.

South Korea expressed its willingness to provide financing and technological support for education, healthcare, communication technology, agriculture and other socially important projects in Uzbekistan, the statement said.

The two countries also agreed on the need for expanding and diversifying aid projects in Uzbekistan, and South Korea agreed to use its Economic Development Cooperation Fund and other means to help with information technology, energy, transportation infrastructure and other projects in Uzbekistan, it said.

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations and work together to cope with global and regional challenges and promote peace and stability, the statement said.

Uzbekistan also expressed support for Seoul's policy on North Korea, it said.

On the sidelines of the summit, the two countries signed four agreements calling for judicial cooperation, military information exchange, tourism promotion and financial cooperation.