SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) - South Korea and Qatar have signed an initial agreement to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation during talks between their defense chiefs, officials said Wednesday, amid Seoul's push to boost arms exports to the Middle East.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) as he met Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, who doubles as minister of state for defense, in Doha on Tuesday (local time).

Under the MOU, the two countries will hold regular defense ministerial talks and make efforts to establish an institutional foundation for defense cooperation, according to Shin's ministry.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in various defense sectors, such as increasing exchange between their defense-related institutes and expanding combined drills, it said.

Earlier in the day, Shin paid a courtesy call on Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and vowed to further develop their defense ties, citing the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations this year.

The minister's visit came after President Yoon Suk Yeol made a state visit to Qatar last October, when the two countries agreed to upgrade their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."

Shin also attended South Korea's football match against Jordan on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Qatar at the invitation of the emir. South Korea lost 2-0.

It marked Shin's last trip of a three-nation Middle East swing, which also took him to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

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