North Korea-China New Yalu River Bridge Opens; Li Qiang: "Ties Enter a New Stage"

'Dandong-Sinuiju' Bridge Opens on October 15
China Plans to Expand Economic and Trade Cooperation

The New Yalu River Bridge linking Dandong in China's Liaoning Province and Sinuiju in North Korea's North Pyongan Province officially opened on October 15. China emphasized that relations between the two countries had "entered a new stage" and that it would expand economic and trade cooperation.

Residents look at the newly opened North Korea-China New Yalu River Bridge in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, on the 15th. Reuters-Yonhap News Agency.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in a video message at the bridge's opening ceremony on October 15 that "the New Yalu River Bridge is an important cross-border infrastructure project that Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have jointly followed with interest and promoted."

The New Yalu River Bridge is a 3,026-meter-long, two-way, four-lane bridge. It was completed in 2014 but did not open to traffic for 12 years because of issues including the lack of connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side. The bridge was left unused without the final construction work being completed as relations between the two countries cooled following a series of North Korean nuclear tests, but construction resumed as ties improved recently.

Premier Li said on October 15 that the bridge "will promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, expand people-to-people exchanges and become a new landmark symbolizing the traditional friendship between China and North Korea." He added, "I hope this opening will serve as an opportunity to improve customs procedures, tap the potential for cooperation in border areas, and enhance the well-being of the peoples of both countries." He also said, "Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' top leaders, China-North Korea relations are entering a new stage and opening a new chapter."

Premier Li also cited remarks by President Xi at the China-North Korea summit in June. He stressed that "no matter how the international situation changes, the firm position of the Chinese Party and government in valuing the traditional friendship between China and North Korea will not change," adding that "China's unwavering support for North Korea's socialist cause under Kim Jong Un's leadership and its resolve to safeguard the shared interests of the two countries will also remain unchanged."

He also said, "We will faithfully implement the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen strategic communication and political trust, expand practical cooperation, and deepen multilateral coordination to ensure the continued development of China-North Korea relations." North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song also delivered a video message at the opening ceremony on October 15.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.