China-North Korea Bridge Set to Open on October 15

Bangla Press Desk: The ​long-delayed New Yalu River Bridge linking ‌China and North Korea will be opened on October 15, Chinese state news agency ​Xinhua said on Wednesday.

The two sides ​will jointly hold an opening ceremony, ⁠the report said.China completed its side ​of the bridge in 2014, hoping to ​boost trade ties, although North Korea left its approach roads and customs facilities unfinished as ​relations soured over Pyongyang's nuclear tests ​and the U.N. sanctions that followed.

The opening of ‌the ⁠new bridge signals further progress in bilateral relations between Beijing and Pyongyang, weeks after North Korea opened its first ​road bridge ​with Russia.

China's ⁠exports to North Korea rose to a six-year high of $2.3 ​billion last year, a 25% ​increase ⁠over the previous year. That was still well short of levels from before ⁠the ​UN sanctions were imposed ​in 2017.

Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; ​Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Tom Hogue. source: Reuters

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