Xi announces opening of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

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‍Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday morning announced the opening of a new bridge connecting the mainland city of Zhuhai, and the two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao.

The 55km-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest sea crossing, will open to traffic at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

"I declare the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge officially opened," Xi said.

The president made the announcement in an opening ceremony in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province.

A general view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge after its opening ceremony in Zhuhai, China, October 23, 2018. /Reuters Photo

China's Vice Premier Han Zheng, Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, both vice chairmen of China's top political advisory body, Guangdong Communist Party of China chief Li Xi, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Macao Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Fernando Chui, also attended the ceremony.

After the ceremony, Xi rode in a vehicle to tour and inspect the bridge.

During the inspection, Xi ascended on a platform to overlook the bridge at the east artificial island, which is a key part of the bridge.

The bridge is a national project. "You participated in the design, building, and maintenance of the bridge, gave full play to your talents and wisdom, and accomplished the tasks with good quality and quantity," Xi said, adding that he is proud of such achievements.

Praising builders of the bridge for breaking a number of world records, Xi said they've demonstrated the nation's spirit of striving to overcome any difficulties, the national strength, the innovative ability, and the aspiration to be the world's best.

"With the bridge, we have further enhanced our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Xi said.

The bridge should not only be structurally sound but also well managed, in a bid to contribute to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, he said.

The massive project includes a road bridge and underwater tunnel linking Zhuhai to Hong Kong's Lantau Island and Macao across the waters of the Pearl River Delta. It will reduce the travel time from Zhuhai to Hong Kong to 30 minutes from three hours.