Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on June 8 attended the inauguration ceremony of a bridge spanning the Red River, linking Hanoi’s outlying town of Son Tay with Vinh Tuong district in Vinh Phuc province.

As the longest river crossing in the country, the 5,487m Vinh Thinh Bridge was built by engineers and workers of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK). It is seen as a symbol of the strategic partnership between the two Governments.

The four-lane, 137 million USD bridge is expected to facilitate travel between the capital city and surrounding northern provinces, such as Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Tuyen Quang, as well as help reduce traffic congestion.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Dung emphasised the importance of the work in the socio-economic development of not only Hanoi and Vinh Phuc, but also the whole northwestern region.

He thanked the RoK Government and people for the preferential official development assistance (ODA) they provided to the project, saying the RoK is now one of Vietnam ’s leading investors, trade partners and ODA donors.

Affirming Vietnam ’s close management and effective use of the RoK’s ODA, PM Dung expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to deepen their strategic partnership in the future.-VNA