Chinese premier meets Thai deputy PM

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday met Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with Thailand, Li said.

He said China, taking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries as an opportunity, is willing to work with Thailand to lift their friendship and pragmatic cooperation in various fields to a new stage, and strive for more development in China's relations and mutually-beneficial cooperation with ASEAN.

The premier recalled his visit to Thailand last year, when he and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on China-Thailand railway cooperation, saying that over the past six months, preparations for related projects have achieved positive progress.

Li said the major project could benefit the Thai people, promote China-Thailand exchanges, and facilitate regional connectivity. He hoped the two sides would lose no time and start construction as scheduled.

Prawit said Thailand-China exchanges and cooperation in various fields are at a high, adding that his country is willing to further its relations with China based on their friendly cooperation over the past four decades.

Thailand will work with China to prepare for the railway project and push for an early start of construction, he said. Endi