China-aided Bamako No.3 Bridge inaugurated in Mali

Updated: 2011-09-28

Panorama of Bamako No.3 Bridge

Sep 22 witnessed thousands of Bamako citizens singing and dancing on Bamako No.3 Bridge aided by Chinese government and constructed by CGGC. They put their thumbs up and hailed: "NO.1, China! NO.1, CGGC!" to express their sincere gratitude to Chinese people.

Ceremony was held on the approach span to inaugurate the Friendship Bridge over China and Mali. The historical ceremony was attended by Amadou Toumani Toure, President of Republic of Mali, Yu Jianhua, Special Envoy of Chinese government and Assistant Minister of Commerce of China, and Cao Zhongming, Chinese ambassador in Mali, CGGC constructors and thousands of Bamako citizens.

Bamako citizens singing and dancing

Yu Jianhua addressed the ceremony that the Bridge was built with the direction of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Malian President Toure, and erected as a monument to the mutual support, coordination, wisdom and hard work of both Chinese and Malian engineers. The successful delivery of the Bridge marked that the fruitful cooperation between China and Mali had entered a new phase.

President Toure said that the delivery of the Bridge played an irreplaceable role in enhancing the long-lasting friendship between the two countries.

At 11:40, President Toure and Yu Jianhua set feet on the Bridge for ribbon-cutting and shook hands with CGGC constructors. President Toure later inspected the project, followed by thousands of excited Bamako citizens dancing to Chinese music played by Malian army band and hailing "NO.1,China! NO.1,CGGC!"