Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei speaks at a regular news conference on Monday, March 28, 2016. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Chinese authorities are asking for more local cooperation to get a pair of railway projects moving more quickly in Indonesia and Thailand.

The project in Indonesia is from the capital of Jakarta to Bandung.

The one in Thailand links Bangkok with the country's northern border.

It's being reported both projects are facing construction delays and budget cuts on the local end.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei says it's the Chinese hope both the Thai and Indonesian sides will look at the long-term benefits of the projects.

"We are hoping that the parties involved will step up coordination and cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of these projects, so that they can produce economic and social benefits as early as possible, boost economic development, improve the regional interconnection between China and ASEAN, as well as people's livelihood, and benefit the people along the rail lines."

The rail lines are part of a push the Chinese government has been making to get its high-speed rail technology into Southeast Asia to help create the infrastructure necessary to make the "belt and road" initiative successful.