South Korea has agreed to expand its bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan in sectors including critical minerals, defense, transportation and infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, according to a South Korean government release on Tuesday.

The declaration comes following a summit meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Tuesday.

The two leaders exchanged 13 agreements and MoUs and agreed to set up a Korea desk within the Uzbek government to support South Korean companies and launch a joint business council.

The visiting Uzbek president also agreed to expand South Korean corporate participation in Uzbekistan's future infrastructure projects, building on cooperation in high-speed rail and airport development.