Strategic Yalu Crossing Completed, Boosting Trade and People‑to‑People Ties

Beijing reports that the latest Yalu River bridge has been opened for regular traffic, marking a milestone in China‑DPRK relations. Premier Li Qiang delivered a video message praising the joint effort that brought the project to fruition, citing the involvement of Party secretaries Xi Jinping and Kim Jong‑un.

He called for the immediate optimisation of border customs, greater utilisation of the bridge’s capacity, and expanded cooperation in adjacent frontier zones. Such steps, he said, will advance the wellbeing of citizens on both sides of the river.

The bridge connects Tantan, Liaoning, with Sinuiju, North Korea, featuring a 28.5‑metre wide deck designed for four lanes of two‑way traffic and engineered to transport loads up to 3,000 tonnes. This modern structure replaces the older dual road‑rail span that could only accommodate one‑way trucks over twenty tonnes.

The 2010 accord to build a new road bridge beneath the existing crossing has finally been realised, providing a dedicated, high‑capacity route for commerce and travel. Both governments view the bridge as a fresh emblem of their historic friendship and a platform for deeper strategic dialogue, expanded practical cooperation, and tighter multilateral coordination.