The South Korean president arrived in Tashkent on Sunday on a three-day state visit.

The summit is expected to focus on ways to increase economic cooperation between the countries while Seoul is hoping to win increased support for its energy security, according to South Korean officials accompanying the president.

"Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea is becoming a very important relationship," Karimov was quoted as saying Sunday as he greeted the South Korean president at the airport.

"I believe this (summit) will be a very important opportunity for the development of the relationship between the two countries, as well as the development of Uzbekistan," Lee was quoted as telling Karimov.

Lee will head for Kazakhstan Tuesday, following a brief trip with the Uzbek president to the ancient city of Samarkand.