LUSAKA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Zambia and Botswana on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to the completion of the construction of a mega bridge aimed at boosting trade in the region.

The two leaders made the commitment after holding talks in Lusaka, the Zambian capital during Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi's one-day working visit.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu told reporters after the talks that the meeting was an affirmation of the commitment by leaders of the two countries to complete and commission the Kazungula Bridge by next year.

The 259-million-U.S.-dollar rail-and-road bridge project was mooted in 2007 in order to replace an existing ferry.

The Botswana leader arrived here in the early hours of Tuesday for a meeting with his Zambian counterpart and immediately left after the talks.