President Lee Myung-bak met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Monday in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

In a joint statement issued after their talks, the two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in various fields.

The two countries signed 12 memoranda of understanding on energy, industry, finance and infrastructure, including one on oil and gas exploration projects in five Uzbek areas.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to fighting the global financial crisis, terrorism, drug trafficking and nuclear proliferation.

Uzbekistan expressed its support for Seoul’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the six-party nuclear talks, while Seoul recognized Tashkent’s leading role in establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone in Central Asia.

Mr. Lee extended an invitation for the Uzbek leader to visit Seoul.