ZHUHAI – President Xi Jinping announced the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge at a launch ceremony in Zhuhai yesterday morning, the world’s longest sea bridge.
On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), expressed sincere thanks and warm greetings to those who participated in the design, building, and management of the mega-bridge.
Han Zheng, vice premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the opening ceremony, which was held at a hall of Zhuhai Port.
The 55-km bridge, situated in the waters of Lingdingyang of the Pearl River Estuary, connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The bridge is the first of its kind for the three regions to jointly build a sea-crossing traffic project under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems.”
The crossing consists of a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel.
At 9:30 a.m., Xi was greeted at the hall by a standing ovation.
After watching a video on the building of the bridge, Li Xi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, her Macau counterpart Fernando Chui Sai On and Han delivered speeches.
Lam said the bridge would help transform Hong Kong from a “connector to a more active participant”.
Chui said that close communication between the three governments in building the bridge demonstrated the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
Chui noted that the new land link – serving “One Country” and “Two Systems” while connecting three separate customs territories – i.e. the entire west bank of the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau – would have a profound significance in driving economic development of the region.
On a social level, the bridge would also strengthen opportunities for Macau people to have exchanges with people on the mainland, Chui said.
President Xi Jinping applauds after announcing the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) at the mega-project’s opening ceremony in Zhuhai yesterday. – Xinhua
This aerial picture taken on Monday shows a section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) in Hong Kong. – AFP
President Xi Jinping waves during the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) at Zhuhai Port yesterday. – AFP
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