Nicaraguan officials have set a start date of 22 December for the Panama Canal rival, which will run for 278km between the Atlantic and Pacific.

"We are ready to begin", added Zhu Xiaoya, from Hong Kong-based construction company HKND, according to the BBC.

It has pledged to make the canal deeper and wider than its rival.

The plan has not been without controversy, with opponents concerned about its environmental impact.

Construction