China values its friendly ties with Cuba and is willing to work with Cuba to push bilateral relationship to a new height, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Jose Ramon Fernandez Alvarez, vice president of the Cuban Council of Ministers and also president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, in Beijing on August 21, 2008.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Jose Ramon Fernandez Alvarez, vice president of the Cuban Council of Ministers, in Beijing on Thursday.

Li said Sino-Cuban relations were at a new stage of development, as the two countries had maintained frequent high-level contact and increased economic cooperation and consultation in international affairs.

Li also congratulated the Cuban guest on the good performance of Cuban athletes at the Olympic Games.

Fernandez, also president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, said Cuba would make new efforts to strengthen relations with China and believed the Games would be a total success.

Li also met on Thursday with Tony Hayward, BP Group chief executive officer.

He said energy was an important resource for economic development and high oil prices had become a cause of concern for many countries.

He said that nations should strengthen dialogue and cooperation to safeguard global energy security.

China would take the scientific development outlook and adopt measures to save resources and reduce emissions, , the vice-premier said, adding China will improve the efficiency of energy consumption to pursue sustainable development.

He hoped BP would expand cooperation with its Chinese partners to achieve a win-win deal.

Hayward said his company would continue to strengthen cooperation with China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)