8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge opens | 中孟“友谊桥”通车

　　On Sept. 4 local time, the 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge was officially opened to traffic after six years of construction. Like the earlier Padma Bridge, it is a witness to the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
　　历时6年建设，孟加拉国当地时间9月4日上午，孟中友谊八桥正式通车，继帕德玛大桥之后，再度成为中孟两国友谊源远流长的见证。
　　It is the eighth bridge project to arise from Chinese efforts to aid Bangladesh. It was completed by the China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance and Design Institute, a Wuhan-based state-owned enterprise which undertook survey, design and management activities throughout the project.
　　孟中友谊八桥，是我国援助孟加拉国的第八座桥梁工程，由在汉央企中铁大桥院勘测设计并进行全过程项目管理。


　　Bridge head designed with both Chinese and Islamic elements
　　With a continuous rigid frame, the bridge has seven spans. The bridge piers and landscape guardrails are designed with Islamic elements, and the bridge heads with "Chinese knots," reflecting the friendship and cultural exchange between the two countries.
　　该桥采用七跨连续的刚构方案，为体现中孟友谊和两地文化，桥墩和景观护栏上设计伊斯兰元素图案，桥头设计融入“中国结”元素。
　　Located about five kilometers from Pirojpur, Barishal Region, the project has a total length of 3 kilometers, including a 1.5-kilometer grand bridge and about 1.5 kilometers of connecting roads as well as supporting facilities.
　　大桥位于孟加拉国南部巴里萨尔专区比罗杰布尔以东约5公里处，线路总长3公里，包括1座1.5公里的特大桥梁、1.5公里的道路接线和相关附属工程。
　　Its operation will render river-crossing by ferries and boats outdated, reducing the traffic time to a few minutes. The bridge establishes a direct connection between Khulna and Barisal regions, facilitating the development of agriculture, industry, aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism along the traffic line and in southern Bangladesh.
　　大桥的通车将改变当地居民使用渡轮和船只过河的方式，将过河时间缩短到几分钟。大桥还打通库尔纳专区到巴里萨尔专区之间的交通瓶颈，通道沿线及孟加拉国南部农业、工业、水产养殖、渔业和旅游业的发展将受益。
　　(Edited by Ye Shiyu)