INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The first vehicle bridge between Russia and China opened to freight traffic Friday as Moscow pivots to Beijing amid the crisis in relations
with the West over its invasion of Ukraine.Most building work on the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe bridge across the Amur River was completed in
in the colors of the Russian flag erupted in the background.With a price tag of 18.8 billion rubles ($318 million), Interfax reported that
14 billion rubles were invested on the Russian section of the bridge.Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said its launch is expected
bridge is expected to carry 630 freight trucks, 164 buses and 68 vehicles per day.Amur region Governor Vasily Orlov said the toll for using
the bridge would be 8,700 rubles ($146), and that construction costs will be recouped in 20 years.Earlier in April, Russia completed
ambitious Belt and Road initiative, which Beijing funds to boost Eurasian trade.Days before ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Russian
