This is a key project not only for Lao Cai province (Vietnam) and Yunnan province (China), but also for both countries, demonstrating close cooperation, long-standing friendship and determination to develop sustainable economy and trade between Vietnam and China.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held simultaneously at both ends of the bridge, Bat Xat (Vietnam) and Ba Sai (China), connected online across the border.

Delegates attending the groundbreaking ceremony.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Construction; leaders of several central ministries and branches; leaders of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee.

On the Lao Cai side, there were Mr.: Trinh Xuan Truong, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vu Xuan Cuong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee; leaders of departments, branches and districts, towns and cities, and a large number of local people.

At the other end of the bridge, there were leaders of the Department of Roads, Ministry of Transport; leaders of the People's Government of Yunnan province; and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming.

Groundbreaking ceremony scene.

The road bridge project across the Red River at the border of Bat Xat, Vietnam - Ba Sai, China was launched nearly 10 years ago. In November 2016, Lao Cai province and representatives of central ministries and branches (Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Construction, National Border Committee - Ministry of Foreign Affairs...) conducted a field survey and the central ministries and branches agreed with the proposal of Lao Cai province, reporting to the Government on the policy of building a road bridge across the Red River in the border area of Bat Xat (Vietnam) - Ba Sai (China). On January 29, 2018, the Prime Minister agreed with the proposal of Lao Cai province on the construction of a road bridge across the Red River in the border area of Bat Xat (Vietnam) - Ba Sai (China).

During the State visit to Vietnam of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping from December 12-13, 2023, 36 cooperation agreements were signed by central and local departments, ministries, and branches of Vietnam and China, including the Agreement and Protocol between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the construction of a road bridge across the Red River in the border area of Bat Xat (Vietnam) - Ba Sai (China).

After the efforts of Lao Cai province (Vietnam) and Yunnan province (China) to complete investment procedures for bridge construction, today the project has started construction.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized: Lao Cai is a province with a central location in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region and border provinces adjacent to Yunnan province - China; is a strategic connection point for development between the two countries to implement the cooperation and connection plan within the framework of "Two corridors, one belt" with the "Belt and Road" Initiative; promote infrastructure connection between the two countries on railways, expressways, border gate infrastructure, combining "hard connection" on infrastructure and "soft connection" on technical cooperation and exchange, smart customs, reducing logistics costs through border gates. Therefore, Lao Cai determined that the investment in building a road bridge across the Red River in the border area of Bat Xat (Vietnam) - Ba Sai (China) is very important and necessary, not only to connect the traffic infrastructure between the two countries but also to affirm the role of the trade gateway of Lao Cai province on the economic corridor of Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh; the center of economic trade connection between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Central agencies and local authorities of Vietnam and China to continue to create favorable conditions for relevant parties to organize the implementation of construction projects to achieve progress and quality as required, and at the same time request the project investor, contractor, consultant to focus resources, human resources, equipment, and machinery so that the construction project is completed on time, achieves quality and promotes good efficiency.

Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan emphasized: The bridge will not only play a role as a vital traffic route, helping to shorten the travel distance between the two localities, but also create a great driving force for the development of trade, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries. The completion of the project will open up many opportunities for economic and investment cooperation, while improving the lives of people on both sides of the border. The project is a testament to the commitment of the Governments of Vietnam and China to develop the transport infrastructure system in the border area, towards a region of sustainable development, peace and prosperity.

The groundbreaking of the road bridge across the Red River border of Bat Xat, Vietnam - Ba Sai, China, together with the construction of Sa Pa Airport, the groundbreaking of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway, the expansion of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway from Yen Bai to Lao Cai to 4 lanes will help Lao Cai province soon become a growth pole and a center for economic trade connection between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China as defined in Resolution 11-NQ/BCT of the Politburo on the development of the Northern Midlands and Mountainous provinces.

Delegates gave the order to start the project.

Delegates performed the project groundbreaking ceremony.

Delegates visit Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone planning.

Groundbreaking scene of the project at the head of Ba Sai bridge (China).

Mr. Chu Vinh Phong, Director of the Road Administration, Ministry of Transport of China, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony held at Ba Sai bridge (China).

Mr. Chu Vinh Phong, Director of the Road Administration, Ministry of Transport of China, emphasized: Transport cooperation is an important bridge in bilateral cooperation. From the Dien Viet railway with a hundred-year history to the groundbreaking ceremony of the road bridge across the Red River today, each connection creates momentum for the development of the two countries' regions.

In the coming time, the Chinese Ministry of Transport will continue to coordinate with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to support cross-border traffic connection projects, taking the Bat Xat - Ba Sai road bridge project as a new starting point, together drawing a picture of a border traffic network with many friendship bridges, promoting the development of cooperation between the two countries.

The road bridge project across the Red River at the border of Bat Xat (Vietnam) - Ba Sai (China) has been agreed by both sides on the construction design, the scale includes: The main bridge across the Red River is a low-tower cable-stayed bridge, the span diagram includes 3 spans, 230m long; prestressed reinforced concrete beams constructed by the cantilever method combined with fan-shaped cable-stayed, the tower pillar is 20m high from the bridge surface; the bridge width is 35.3m (including the width of the tower pillar). Accordingly, each side will invest in building 1/2 of the main bridge, 115m long; the total construction cost of the bridge on the Vietnamese side is about 282 billion Vietnamese dong. This bridge project is the fourth bridge built in the Lao Cai border gate economic zone (after Ho Kieu I, II, Kim Thanh bridges). The project strives to be completed before June 2026.

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