Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2017 shows fireworks display presented by local Chinese community and Chinese companies after the opening ceremony of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Brunei's first cable-stayed bridge, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge, also known as Water Village Bridge, was officially opened to the public on Saturday evening, in conjunction of the golden jubilee celebration of Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's accession to the throne. (Xinhua/Jeffrey Wong)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's first cable-stayed bridge, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge, also known as Water Village Bridge, was officially opened to the public on Saturday evening, in conjunction of the golden jubilee celebration of Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's accession to the throne.
The Sultan, together with other members of the royal family, attended the opening ceremony and officially named the 750-metre-long bridge after his wife as Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge.
The 139-million-Brunei-dollar (103 million U.S. dollars) bridge, which links the capital area to the southern part of the Brunei River, home to the iconic water villages, started construction in July 2013.
Abu Bakar, Brunei's minister of home affairs, said in his welcoming speech that the bridge marks another milestone in the Sultan's 50-year reign, demonstrating his utmost interest in the capital's modernization and infrastructure development.
The bridge will open up the capital's southern bank area and make the area more attractive for both commercial and residential development. In addition, it will offering residents in the area reduction of travelling time to other parts of Brunei, an official from Brunei's Ministry of Development told Xinhua on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.
After the ceremony, a river float procession and two sessions of fireworks display presented by local Chinese community and two Chinese companies Hengyi Industries and Bank of China Hong Kong (BOCHK) Brunei Branch separately, lit up the sky and drew cheers and applause from about 60,000 audience.
"It's the most amazing show of fireworks I have ever seen, especially the second session prepared by the Chinese companies," Izzat Razak, a local teacher told Xinhua. "It's so refreshing for me and my family."
