Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, sent each other congratulatory messages Saturday on the formal commencement of a project of China-Thailand cooperation in railway construction.

Li said in his message that the launch of China-Thai cooperation in railway construction meets the needs and common interests of development of both nations and is of important significance to promoting regional interconnectivity and mutual access.

While encouraging the two sides to continue their efforts in ensuring smooth implementation of the project, Li expressed the hope that fulfillment of the project will lay a foundation for an early opening to the traffic of a "great artery" connecting China, Laos and Thailand, so as to promote common development in the region and bring benefit to the people.

Acknowledging that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, Li said China is willing to join hands with Thailand in making concerted efforts in this endeavor, and keep expanding and deepening mutually beneficial and practical cooperation between the two countries, with bilateral cooperation in the railway construction project as a new starting point,to promote the China-Thailand friendly relations to a new height.

For his part, Prayuth, while hailing the close relations and cultural links between Thailand and China, said the railway construction cooperation project is yet another example of success in bilateral practical cooperation.

He said the project will not only lay an important cornerstone for the two countries to launch closer cooperation in the future, but will also benefit the two peoples, enhance the two countries' competitiveness, and promote regional economic development and prosperity.

Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkit Chatusiphithak attended the launching ceremony of the project in Thailand's Ayutthaya city on Saturday.

On Dec. 3, China and Thailand signed an intergovernmental framework document cementing the joint effort in building an 867-kilometer dual-track railway in Thailand. Endi

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