China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a joint ceremony on October 15 to open the new bridge connecting China’s Liaoning Province and North Pyongan Province of the DPRK.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and DPRK Premier Pak Thae Song addressed the ceremony by video link.
Li called upon the two countries to take the opening of the new China-DPRK Yalu River bridge as an opportunity to continuously optimise port clearance, enhance connectivity, tap the potential for cooperation in border areas, and improve the well-being of the two peoples. [Editor’s Note: The river is known as the Yalu in China and the Amnok in Korea.]
“The bridge is bound to become a new landmark symbolising the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK,” he added.
Noting that the bridge is an important cross-border infrastructure project that General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un have jointly cared about and promoted, Li said that China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighbours linked by mountains and rivers, adding that at present, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries, China-DPRK relations are entering a new stage and opening a new chapter.
He went on to say Xi has pointed out that no matter how the international landscape evolves, the firm position of China’s party and government to attach great importance to the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK will remain unchanged; the firm support for Kim in leading the DPRK’s socialist cause will remain unchanged; and the determination to safeguard the common interests of both sides and maintain a favourable strategic environment will remain unchanged.
Premier Pak Thae Song said that the opening ceremony of the bridge serves as a significant occasion of not only connecting the branches of the two countries in a fresh, natural and geographical way but also firmly linking the friendly ties between the peoples of the two countries who have shared life and death for a long time.
It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to steadily put the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations with socialism, the common idea, common banner and the common cause, as the core on a new strategic height in conformity with the interests and desire of the peoples of the two countries, he stressed.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) further noted that speakers from the provincial bodies of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Communist Party of China said that the opening of the Amnok River Bridge held in October marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the entry of the Chinese People’s Volunteers into the Korean front is a clear manifestation of the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations dynamically developing on a new high stage thanks to the deep personal relations between respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and respected Comrade Xi Jinping and their energetic leadership.
They further expressed the will to boost bilateral exchange and cooperation for the development of the DPRK-China relations, wishing the traditional DPRK-China friendship, the common wealth of the two countries, to be eternal.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and KCNA.
Chinese premier hails cross-border bridge as new landmark of China-DPRK friendship
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese premier Li Qiang on Thursday called on China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to take the opening of the new China-DPRK Yalu River bridge as an opportunity to continuously optimize port clearance, enhance connectivity, tap the potential for cooperation in border areas, and improve the well-being of the two peoples.
“The bridge is bound to become a new landmark symbolizing the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK,” Li said.
Li made the remarks when delivering a video speech at the opening ceremony of the bridge connecting China’s Liaoning Province and North Pyongan Province of the DPRK.
Noting that the bridge is an important cross-border infrastructure project that General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un have jointly cared about and promoted, Li said that with the joint efforts of both sides, the opening of the bridge will not only effectively promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, but also further enhance personnel exchanges and strengthen the emotional bond between the two peoples.
China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, said Li, adding that at present, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries, China-DPRK relations are entering a new stage and opening a new chapter.
Xi has pointed out that no matter how the international landscape evolves, the firm position of China’s Party and government to attach great importance to the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK will remain unchanged; the firm support for Kim in leading the DPRK’s socialist cause will remain unchanged; and the determination to safeguard the common interests of both sides and maintain a favorable strategic environment will remain unchanged, said Li.
China is willing to work with the DPRK to continue making efforts to implement the important consensus reached by the two top leaders, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and enhance multilateral coordination, so as to continuously deepen the development of China-DPRK relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Li said.
Pak Thae Song, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, delivered a video speech.
China Focus: New China-DPRK border bridge over Yalu River opens to traffic
SHENYANG, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) — The new China-DPRK Yalu River bridge officially opened to traffic on Thursday, with both sides jointly holding an opening ceremony on this cross-border artery.
The cable-stayed bridge over the Yalu River serves as a cross-border transport link between the city of Dandong in northeast China’s Liaoning Province and the city of Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The double-pylon and double-cable-plane bridge features a 28.5-meter-wide deck designed with four lanes for two-way traffic, while its water navigation clearance is designed for vessels of up to the 3,000-tonne class.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang hailed the bridge as a new landmark of China-DPRK friendship. “The bridge is bound to become a new landmark symbolizing the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK,” Li said in a video speech at the opening ceremony.
In his remarks, Li called on China and the DPRK to take the opening of the new bridge as an opportunity to continuously optimize port clearance, enhance connectivity, tap the potential for cooperation in border areas, and improve the well-being of the two peoples.
China is willing to work with the DPRK to continue making efforts to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and enhance multilateral coordination, so as to continuously deepen the development of China-DPRK relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Li said.
The new bridge will further facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and the new bridge is an important facility for connectivity between the two countries, Mao told a regular press briefing.
Dandong boasts China’s largest border trade port with the DPRK. Before the new road bridge, the Yalu River Bridge, also known as the China-DPRK Friendship Bridge, served as a combined road-rail bridge. The old one, however, could only accommodate trucks weighing no more than 20 tonnes for one-way road traffic.
China and the DPRK agreed in 2010 to build a new road bridge downstream from the old one.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony of DPRK-China Amnok River Bridge Held
Pyongyang, October 16 (KCNA) — At a time when the work to deepen exchange and cooperation between the DPRK and China is designed and dynamically accelerated, the DPRK-China Amnok River Bridge was completed.
The bridge is the creation reflecting the invincible vitality and development of the DPRK-China friendship which has preserved its nature despite the trials of history.
The modern bridge enables the two countries to boost the bilateral economic relations.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the bridge was held on the spot on October 15 amid the expectation and interest of the governments and peoples of the two countries.
Present there were Yang Myong Chol, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the North Phyongan Provincial People’s Committee, Ri Ryong Nam, the DPRK ambassador to China, Ma Jong Su, the DPRK consul general in Shenyang, officials concerned and officials of the Party and power organs in North Phyongan Province and Sinuiju City.
On hand there were Xu Kunlin, secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Bai Ying, vice-governor of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Government, Wang Yajun, the Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and officials in Beijing and local areas including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Liaoning Province.
The national anthems of the DPRK and People’s Republic of China were played there.
Li Qiang, premier of the State Council of the PRC, and Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK, made speeches through video conferencing.
Li Qiang warmly congratulated the opening of the China-DPRK Amnok River Bridge in the deep attention of Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping and Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un on behalf of the Chinese party and government.
He confirmed that the Chinese party and government would remain unchanged in their firm attitude to highly prioritize the China-DPRK friendship no matter how the international situation may change and in their firm support to the socialist cause of the DPRK led by Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un and in their firm determination to defend the common interests of the two countries and strategic environment.
He expressed his willingness to thoroughly implement the important common understanding of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries together with the DPRK side, deepen political mutual trust and expand the practical cooperation and thus contribute to the development of the China-DPRK relations and the promotion of the well-being of the peoples of the two countries.
Pak Thae Song said that the opening ceremony of the bridge serves as a significant occasion of not only connecting the branches of the two countries in a fresh, natural and geographical way but also firmly linking the friendly ties between the peoples of the two countries who have shared life and death for a long time.
It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to steadily put the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations with socialism, the common idea, common banner and the common cause, as the core on a new strategic height in conformity with the interests and desire of the peoples of the two countries, he stressed.
Expressing belief that the bridge would accelerate the advance for the prosperity of the two countries and the well-being of the peoples and add fresh vigour to the equally-beneficial economic cooperation, he congratulated the opening of the bridge.
Yang Myong Chol, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and Xu Kunlin, secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, made congratulatory speeches.
The speakers expressed thanks to the officials and builders in the relevant fields of the two countries for their sincere sweat, efforts and wisdom for opening of the bridge.
The opening of the Amnok River Bridge held in October marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the entry of the Chinese People’s Volunteers into the Korean front is a clear manifestation of the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations dynamically developing on a new high stage thanks to the deep personal relations between respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and respected Comrade Xi Jinping and their energetic leadership, they stressed.
They expressed the will to boost bilateral exchange and cooperation for the development of the DPRK-China relations, wishing the traditional DPRK-China friendship, the common wealth of the two countries, eternal.
The ribbon was cut by Yang Myong Chol, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Ri Ryong Nam, the DPRK ambassador to China, Ma Jong Su, consul general in Shenyang, Xu Kunlin, secretary of the Liaoning Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Yajun, the Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and Zhao Cheng, head of the Publicity Department of the Liaoning Committee of CPC.
After the passing of vehicles of the two countries, the opening of the DPRK-China Amnok River Bridge was declared.
