BANGKOK -- China is ready to hold talks with Thailand over visa exemption for regular passport holders, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang here on Friday.

Li made the announcement while delivering a speech at the Thai Parliament shortly after he arrived in the Southeast Asian nation for an official visit.

Visa exemption would facilitate the people-to-people and cultural exchanges of the two countries, and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Li said.

Thailand is the first country within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to start such talks with China.