Yangon (People's Daily) - In Burma’s Southeast Yangon region sits the Thanlyin Bridge, an important city thoroughfare. Construction on the landmark project began in 1985 and was completed in 1993. Stretching some 2.2 kilometers, it is Burma's largest dual-rail bridge.

Thanlyin Bridge project director Thant Zin, the architect on the Burmese side, told People’s Daily, “At that time, technical conditions were limited, but together with Chinese engineers we were able to overcome difficulties and within eight years we were able to build the bridge.”

Dansing, Myanmar Project director, discussed his experience with Chinese and Burmese engineers on the Thanlyin Bridge. (Photos: Sun Guangyong)

During construction, China deployed over 100 engineers and technicians to help with the project, including experts in bridge building, machinery operators and electrical engineers.

Together with their Chinese counterparts, they overcame setbacks, challenges, and many struggles before the  bridge opened to drivers.

Back then Myanmar did not have bridge building capabilities. In working with Chinese experts, Burmese engineers were able to cultivate their first generation of engineering experts. 

A landmark honoring Sino-Burmese bridge building efforts.

Burma has many rivers, large river basins, and over the past 25 years, they have built bridges using the knowledge they learned from the Chinese.

In 1996, Chindwin Bridge opened. Two years later Paan Bridge opened, and the list goes on. 

Dinn Bridge builders Dansing and Thein Ngong discuss the maintenance of the bridge. 

Burma’s chief bridge engineer, Thein Aung, at the age of 25, is head of Myanmar’s bridge maintenance department.

"Chinese experts have provided us with an enormous amount of guidance in terms of bridge design and construction and have imparted many techniques and skills to the Burmese,” he said.

In recent years, Burma’s infrastructure has developed rapidly and it’s due to advanced technology from China. 

Myanmar's bridge building offices.

Today, engineers from both sides have been actively promoting road construction and conservation efforts.

In March, China worked with Burma on its rolling bridge project. 

Furthermore, the Burmese have made upgrades on their Mandalay-Muzhe Expressway, Yangon-Mandalay Expressway and the Mandalay-Michina Highway. 

(Story compiled by Lance Crayon)