The agreement came in a joint statement issued at the end of a summit held here in the Uzbek capital. Lee arrived here Sunday on a three-day state visit.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction that their bilateral relations in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian sectors have significantly developed in recent years and agreed to increase cooperation between their governments, parliaments, economies and private organizations to further strengthen their strategic partnership," the joint statement said.

The leaders also agreed to step up their economic and energy cooperation.

Uzbekistan has agreed to renew and launch joint projects with South Korea to explore new oil fields and mineral mines with Seoul, according to the 12-point statement.

Seoul will boost its economic assistance to Tashkent, introducing a new employment program to allow more Uzbek workers into the South Korean economy, the world’s 13th largest, it said.

"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," the South Korean president said Sunday in a brief meeting with his Uzbek counterpart at the airport.

"Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea is becoming a very important relationship," replied Karimov, according to a spokesman for the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee and Karimov will head to Uzbekistan’s ancient city of Samarkand Tuesday for a brief tour. The South Korean president will leave for Kazakhstan later that day for a three-day state visit.