President: China will provide free aid for bridge project

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that Maldives will receive free aid from the government of China for the project to construct a bridge between Male’ and Hulhule’.

The President made this remark while speaking to reporters at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) on Wednesday night, upon his return from a five-day official visit to China.

He said that he was “99 percent” confident that the project will be awarded to a Chinese company.

He said that the two countries will establish a joint committee for this project, to which people have already been appointed from the Maldives.

The President further said that a special team will arrive in the Maldives this year to conduct a feasibility study on the tide and current movement at the bridge area, and that construction will begin as soon as this is completed.

He referred to his meeting with the President of China, and said that he made a request from the Chinese government to provide assistance to the bridge project.