China will fund the construction of a second bridge into Niamey over the Niger, Africa's third longest river, a Niger diplomatic source said Tuesday.
China has granted 20 million yuans (two million euros, 2,5 million dollars) and an interest-free loan of 30 million yuans to finance the project.
It will send experts to Niger to conduct feasibility studies on the building of another bridge to ease congestion on JF Kennedy memorial bridge, built more than 30 years ago.
Kennedy Bridge, built by the United States in the 1970s, is the only route to the capital Niamey across the river.
The often congested 710-metre (775 yards) long bridge provides landlocked Niger's only access from Niamey to the sea via Ghana and Benin.
Niger established diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1960, but broke them in 1994 for three years when it recognised the Taiwan.
The bridge financing deal was concluded on July 18 during a visit to Beijing by Niger Foreign Minister Aichatou Mindaoudou.
The Niger river is the continent's third longest after the Nile and the Congo and runs through five west African countries, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria.
