Premier Li Keqiang met with Prawit Wongsuwan, first deputy prime minister and defense minister of Thailand, who attended the V-Day commemorations, in the Great Hall of the People on Sept 4.

The Premier said that Chinese government attached great importance to developing ties with Thailand, and would like to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to further push friendship and cooperation with Thailand in all areas to a higher level and jointly promote the development of China-ASEAN relations and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

The Premier also said he and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha earlier this year jointly witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the Sino-Thai railway. Since then, preparatory work of the project has seen marked progress.

He expressed his hope that both countries would enhance efforts to start construction of the railway as scheduled, so as to bring benefits to the Thai people and facilitate the operation of the important cooperation projects of regional connectivity.

Prawit noted that Thailand and China are like members of a family and cooperation in all areas are at their best. Thailand is willing to further develop relations with China on the basis of 40 years of friendly cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Thailand will make preparations together with China to start the construction of Sino-Thai railway.