VIENTIANE, Sept. 25 -- China is ready to work with the Laos for an early start of building a railway connecting the two countries, Chinese Ambassador to the Laos Guan Huabing said here Thursday.

Guan said the "strategic" and "historic" railway project will greatly promote and facilitate trade and economic and personnel exchanges between the two countries, Guan said at a press briefing held here to mark the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

"The project will help realize at an early date of the dream of the Lao people to turn the Laos from a land-locked country to a ' land-linked' one," the ambassador said.

Noting that the railway project involves huge investment, Guan said both China and the Laos need to have in-depth studies into a number of major issues to ensure the project will be carried out in a sustainable way.

During Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong's visit to China in April this year, the two countries announced they were willing to launch negotiations on a railway cooperation agreement.

"The departments concerned from both countries are working on some concrete issues and China is willing to work with the Laos to begin the construction as early as possible," the ambassador said.