A long-delayed road bridge connecting China and North Korea has been inaugurated, marking a significant improvement in trade relations between the two nations.
What happened
The New Yalu River Bridge, which spans 3km from the Chinese border city of Dandong to Sinuiju in North Korea, is expected to become the primary land route for trade between the two countries. The bridge's launch was initially scheduled for 2014 but was postponed due to strained relations between China and North Korea.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang described the bridge as a symbol of the traditional friendship between China and North Korea, while Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized its importance for connectivity and trade between the two nations. The bridge is an alternative to the decades-old Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.
According to experts, the opening of the bridge is unlikely to lead to a sudden surge in trade due to existing UN sanctions on North Korea. However, it is expected to gradually increase trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Last year, bilateral trade reached $2.7 billion, marking a recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
