Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Fukang have said that China Maldives Friendship Bridge is not a business venture and that it is a social service.
Speaking to Miadhu News the ambassador said that China is developing the bridge as a service to the Maldivians and that it is not a business venture in any sense.
The ambassador said that since this is the first time a bridge is being built in Maldives, China will train Maldivians to maintain the bridge.
“Even now we are talking with Housing Ministry regarding that. China Maldives Friendship Bridge project is a very special project. Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Yameen also gives a very high priority to the project. It is the most important project for Maldivians even” said the ambassador.
Maldivians are happy because the bridge is becoming a reality. The project is being completed at a fast speed because of the priority given to the project by both the governments.
The bridge will not only be used for transportation of people but it will be an important business infrastructure. It will also resolve problems like congestion in Male’ and pave way for modern businesses.
The Chinese government is not worried about the cost of the bridge, since for them it is a service and a gift to the people of Maldives. That is evident from the fact that the Chinese contractor of the project did not charge extra when they had to sink in the pillars of the bridge to a depth that was deeper than previously estimated. If the company proposed price revisions, the government will have to accept it. However, they did not make any such proposals and this shows that the bridge is more of a service and a gift to the people of Maldives by the Chinese government.
China-Maldives Friendship Bridge – This is a name given by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Yameen. President Xi Jinping said that the bridge will connect the people of Maldives and China. This shows that China really values the friendship between the two countries.
Housing Minister Dr.Muhammad Muizzu said that the work is going on ahead of the schedule. Out of the 35 main pillars, concrete work of 22 pillars have been completed. In addition, the concrete work of 40 pillars out of the 88 pillars of the approach bridge has been also completed. Minister Muizzu said that the concrete work of all the pillars will be completed by May 2017.
It is a baseless story spread by the opposition that, the country will plunge in to debt with the construction of the bridge. The cost incurred in the construction of the bridge can be easily paid just with the foreign aid we get from China every year if needed.
Bridge is not a business venture – It is a social service: Chinese Ambassador
