Vietnam and Cambodia have opened a jointly built bridge connecting southwestern Vietnam’s An Giang province and southern Cambodia’s Kandal province.

Both Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen attended an inauguration ceremony for the Long Binh-Chrey Thom bridge on Monday, an event which also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The 427-metre-long concrete bridge took 27 months to be completed at a total cost of US$36 million. According to media reports, expense for the bridge were split almost evenly between the two countries.

Addressing those at the opening ceremony, Mr Hun Sen said the bridge will facilitate peace and improve living standards in both countries, especially in communities located along the Mekong River and in the delta region.

Mr Phuc echoed similar themes in his speech, saying the bridge will help boost trade and tourism between the neighbouring countries.

– with other agencies; Xinhua, Kyodo News