MAPUTO - A $725 million bridge under Mozambique-China cooperation was launched on Thursday by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza in the capital Maputo, with the project estimated to generate 2,000 jobs.

This was announced by the project authorities on Thursday in the presence of President Guebuza, who official launched the first stone that marks the kick off of the construction works.

Guebuza highlighted the importance of the bridge to the development of the districts that will also benefit the construction of roads of more than 200 km and the people from Katembe.

"After the conclusion of the construction works we will be linking the entire country from Rovuma (in the northern region of the country) to Maputo in the real sense. The project will boost economic activities of the districts that will benefit from the roads," the president said.

Hailing the bridge as part of the cooperation between the governments of Mozambique and China, the president urged his people to protect the project.

"When we build something we must take full responsibility of it and take good care of it because all of us will benefit from it," the president said.

The project will last 30 months and will be done by the Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation.

The bridge of 60 meters high and 3 km long involves the resettlement of 800 people.