Either of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine is provided with a variable valve timing device. In a low-speed, low-load range, exhaust valve advanced-closing control is performed to close the exhaust valve at an earlier timing than the top dead center on the intake stroke, thereby trapping residual combustion gases in the cylinder. Furthermore, the cylinder temperature is raised by setting the intake valve opening timing at around the top dead center on the intake stroke or at a later timing thereof to thereby compress by the piston the residual gases in the cylinder during a period from closing the exhaust valve till the top dead center on the intake stroke. Thus it becomes possible to take in the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder at a higher cylinder temperature than the gas temperature of internal EGR caused by conventional valve overlap.