Japan and Uzbekistan agreed Monday to strengthen economic and political cooperation by launching negotiations over a bilateral aviation pact, taking measures against terrorism and working toward the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and visiting Uzbek President Islam Karimov signed a joint statement Monday on bilateral partnership after holding talks at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.

Under the agreement, the two countries will prepare to sign the aviation pact, renewing an earlier incarnation signed between Japan and the former Soviet Union. Two flights a week currently run between Tashkent and Osaka.

The new pact would redefine the rules governing services linking the two countries, according to a Foreign Ministry official.

Karimov praised the swift response of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in sending its ships to the Indian Ocean to offer logistic support in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Japan should play a more active security role both in Central Asia and globally, the official quoted Karimov as saying.

Koizumi replied that Japan should cooperate with Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and to address other international security issues.

Earlier in the day, Karimov met with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and asked for ongoing financial support from Tokyo for Uzbekistan's economic reforms.

Kawaguchi told him that Japan would continue to support Uzbekistan's democratization and transition to a market-based economy.