[Photo/China News Service]

Premier Li Keqiang met Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai in Beijing on Oct 9.

The Premier said China and Thailand are family. He said China is willing to reinforce traditional friendships with Thailand and make cooperative exchange plans in all fields. He said the two countries should try to realize mutual benefits to better serve the people of both nations.

Premier Li said rail cooperation is the highlight of Sino-Thai cooperation, which will facilitate Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to synergize with Thailand’s development strategy boosting economic development for both countries. He said the rail cooperation will promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Thailand, as well as China and countries in the Indo-China Peninsula. He urged both sides to carry out the consensus for the rail project to start construction as soon as possible.

Premier Li spoke highly of Thailand’s coordination role in China’s relations with the ASEAN countries in the past three years. He said China is willing to future deepen the ties with ASEAN countries and maintain regional stability.

The Premier added that the Chinese economy has entered the new normal, and the government should follow the trend to encourage an innovation-driven economy. While pushing for traditional industrial upgrading, he said the government will create a favorable environment for emerging industries to help nurture new growth points, which are also business opportunities for neighboring countries including Thailand.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Thailand attaches great importance to its relations with China, especially to bilateral cooperation in the rail sector. He said Thai government is willing to work with China to ensure an early start of the construction.