The inauguration ceremony for the main body of a bridge that was constructed with the aid of Taiwan was held in Costa Rica on Sunday.
Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodriquez, Veterans Affairs Commission Chairman Yang Te-chih (楊德智) and ROC Ambassador Mao Kao-wen (毛高文) walked over the Taiwan Friendship Bridge -- which was named by the Costa Rican leader last July -- after the ceremony, to the warm applause of the many people looking on.
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The 780m-long, 13.3m-wide bridge over the Tempisque River, is located in Nicoya Bay, 180km from the capital San Jose. It has two lanes for vehicles and another two lanes for pedestrians.
Also attending the inauguration ceremony were Costa Rican Minister of Public Construction Carlos Castro, former Senator Jose Manuel Ajoy, some overseas Chinese groups and about 3,000 Costa Ricans.
Yang said that the Ret-Ser Engineering Corp. has completed many outstanding construction projects in many different countries and that it had overcome many difficulties in this latest project to complete the bridge on schedule.
He noted that completion of the bridge will help promote the Nicoya Peninsula's tourism and economic development -- and it will make life more convenient for the 300,000 residents.
Mao also said that Taiwan's government has fulfilled its commitment to Rodriquez by completing the bridge on time.
The ambassador also expressed appreciation to Rodriquez for his concern for the project and for the support from the Costa Rican Department of Energy and Power Company.
Mao also praised Ret-Ser's construction workers for working hard under sweltering conditions -- and even risking their lives by treading into areas that contain crocodiles and poisonous snakes.
He said that the solid base of the bridge signifies the solid and sincere relationship between the two nations, adding that the basis for the relationship has been their common goals of peace, freedom, democracy and human rights.
Mao also expressed the hope that the Costa Rican government would draft a maintenance plan for the bridge and make it into a tourist attraction.
Rodriquez expressed his appreciation for the assistance of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), which enabled him to fulfill his commitment to the residents of Nicoya during his term.
Nicoya Peninsula residents said the bridge is a dream come true for them, pointing out that they used to have to take a ferry that only came around once every hour -- or a truck journey via detour of two hours -- to cross the river.
They said they hope the bridge will bring tourism and agricultural development.
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