TASHKENT, Nov. 29 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for efforts to bring China-Russia relations and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to higher levels.

Li made the remarks when meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the 12th prime ministers' meeting of the SCO member states in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

Li said the SCO is an important platform for China and Russia to conduct strategic cooperation. Both countries should keep close communication and work together to improve the development of the SCO and achieve new results in security and practical cooperation.

He said efforts are needed to accelerate interconnectivity within the SCO, deepen investment and finance cooperation, strengthen ecological and energy cooperation, boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and jointly safeguard regional and world peace, stability and development.

The regular meeting between Chinese premier and Russian prime minister was successfully held in Beijing last month, with broad consensus achieved on practical cooperation in various fields, which showcased a high-level comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Li said.

The third plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee has made important arrangements on comprehensively deepening China's reform. China will continue to push forward the reform in economy, politics, culture, social construction and ecological progress, and open itself further and wider to the outside world.

"I believe China's reform and opening-up and its development will provide fresh opportunities for China-Russia cooperation," said Li.

Li said China is willing to work with Russia to bring bilateral relations to a new high.

He called for efforts to deepen cooperation in areas including energy, transport and power, as well as cooperation in infrastructure construction based on each side's own needs.

China backs Russia's efforts to successfully host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Li said.

Medvedev said the friendly relationship between the two countries is a firm and high-level one and maintains a good momentum of development, with frequent high-level exchanges and steady progress in various areas of cooperation.

The two countries should deepen security cooperation, and strengthen coordination within the framework of the SCO, to improve regional peace and prosperity, Medvedev said.

Russia and China should complement each other and implement the results of the regular meetings between Russian prime minister and Chinese premier and cooperation projects approved by both sides.

Medvedev called on both sides to boost cooperation in energy, economy and trade, transport and logistics, as well as cooperation between Russia's Far East and China's northeastern region.

The Chinese premier and the Russian prime minister also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.