China-Thailand cooperative railway projects should begin as soon as possible to benefit the Thai people, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting with visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Friday.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of its relationship with Thailand and wants to use the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations to promote cooperation to a new level, Li said.

Prawit said Thailand and China are as close as family, and mutual exchanges are experiencing their best period. He said his government will work with China to push forward the railway project.

Prawit is in China to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.