Runyang Bridge across the Yangtze River, linking the ancient cities of Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, both in east China's Jiangsu Province, opened to traffic Saturday.

Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) attended the grand opening of the suspended bridge, largest of its kind in China.

With an investment of 5.8 billion yuan (some US$700 million), the bridge measures 35.66 kilometers with its main span of 1,490 meters.

The bridge will improve the investment environment of north and central Jiangsu province and speed up its modernization process, said Wu.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2005)