2016年CRI Bridge to be constructed connecting China and Russia

 

Construction is now getting underway on a 1.3-kilometer long bridge, which will connect a Chinese border town in Heilongjiang with a Russian community on the other side of the Heilong, or "Black Dragon" River which divides the two countries.

The joint¹ project, worth some 360 million US dollars, will see construction start this winter.

Ning Changyuan is with the Chinese construction firm which is helping² build the bridge.

"By starting the construction during this season will make it easier for us to clean the mud used in the process, including the drilling mud. It won't infiltrate³ the soil or harm the environment, minimizing the hazards. The second reason we're starting now is because of the drift ice which normally starts around April. If we start now, we're able to avoid that."

Both the Chinese and Russian sides say the new bridge will bring economic benefits on both sides of the "Black Dragon."

Governor of Russia's Amur Region, Andrey Kozlov, says the new bridge project will also help cross-border exchanges.

"The infrastructure⁴ in transportation is one of our priorities. Both heads of state of our two countries are very supportive of this kind of work in the border areas. The bridge, once completed, will play an important role not only in the economy, but also in exchanges in various fields."

Local officials in the Chinese border city of Heihe where the bridge is being built say the project is going to help elevate a major bottle-neck in cross-border trade.

Around 700-thousand people and 300-thousand tons of goods enter or exit China via Heihe every year.

Passenger flows are to double, and cargo⁵ volumes increase by 10-fold, once the project is complete.

It's also part of a trilateral economic corridor linking China, Russia and Mongolia.

The bridge project, proposed 28-years ago, is expected to be finished in October of 2019.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 infiltrate   

vt./vi.渗入，透过；浸润

参考例句：

• The teacher tried to infiltrate her ideas into the children's minds.老师设法把她的思想渗透到孩子们的心中。
• It can infiltrate as much as 100 kilometers into enemy territory at night.可以在夜间深入敌领土100千米。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。