Work on the much-awaited China-Thailand railway project is likely to start by the end of this year, officials from both sides said on Friday.

The project will not only link China and Thailand, but also play a key role in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, said Tanasak Patimapragorn, deputy prime minister and special envoy of the prime minister of Thailand.

"Thailand and China are already working together in railway construction. We have held seven rounds of negotiations and hope to start work by December," he said during the roundtable dialogue between the two sides.