Chinese delegation arrives in Maldives for bridge construction inauguration ceremony

A team of Chinese government officials has arrived in the Maldives for the inauguration ceremony of the Male-Hulhule bridge construction project.

The delegation is led by Vice Minister of Commerce of China, Gao Yan, who has been appointed to attend the the ceremony as a special envoy of the President of China, Xi Jinping.

The ceremony has been scheduled for Wednesday, 30 December 2015 evening.

Vice Governor of Yunnan Province Liu Huiyan paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Monday, 28 December 2015, during which President Yameen, highlighting the benefits of the project, said that the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge would reduce public expenditure and change the way Maldivians shaped their daily lives.

The area known as Lonuziyaaraiy Kolhu in Male has been closed off as part of the preparations for the bridge construction. The preparations are being put in place by the contractor CCCC Harbour Engineering, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The 1.39 km long, 20 m wide bridge would have two lanes for four-wheeled vehicles, two lanes for motorcycles, and one lane each for bicycles and pedestrians.