Gambia's President Adama Barrow has hailed China-Gambia bilateral ties saying cooperation between the two countries has helped facilitate key development projects. The president was speaking over the weekend when he presided over the inauguration ceremony of $81 million worth of roads and bridges in the country's Upper River Region supported by the Chinese government.

The president said the rapid development of friendly relations between the two countries after the resumption of diplomatic relations and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2018 has enabled Gambia to complete a number of major national development projects.

Barrow also said the timely completion of the China-Aid Road and Bridges Project in the Upper River Region implies improvement of living standards for his people. He added Gambia-China bilateral relations are based on principles of sincerity, mutual gain and good faith.

"In 2020, the bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $570 million. Of this, Gambia imported goods worth $540 million and exported goods worth $30 million. This cooperation has led to trade expansion during my presidency in key areas such as the Gambia national broad band network and the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center with a combined investment portfolio of $75 million," Barrow said.

The president further noted the government of China financed the $81 million roads and bridges project on grant which covers the Basse-Fatoto-Koina Road, the Basse-Wulli Bridge and link road, and the Basse Bridge and link roads, as well as the Chamoye and Suduwol Bridge.

"I feel greatly honored to inaugurate the new Upper River Region roads and bridges project. The occasion highlights the historical realization of the people's dreams. This project marks a huge national infrastructural development at the major milestone in the implementation process of the 2018 -2021 National Development Plan," Barrow said.

The China-Aid Road and Bridges Project in Gambia's Upper River Region consists of 51 kilometers of asphalt road from Basse to Koina. The project also includes two grand bridges and two smaller bridges, of which the Basse Bridge is 250 meters long and the Fatoto Bridge is 170 meters long. The general contracting task of the project was undertaken by Longjian Road and Bridge Company Limited.