Chinese Deputy Ambassador: Bridge project will go through five stages

Deputy Ambassador of China to the Maldives Liu Jiyang has said that the construction of the Male’-Hulhule’ bridge project will go through five stages, and that the decision of providing financial support to the project would be made after the survey.

The Deputy Ambassador said this during a press conference held today at President’s Office, by the bridge survey team and the Economic Council.

Deputy Ambassador Liu Jiyang noted that according to similar project experience, the bridge project would go through five stages. These stages are the preliminary feasibility study, project feasibility study, determination of the plan on design and exploration, agreement on financing of the project reached by the government of China and the Maldives, and approval and implementation of the project.

He added that the first group of the team consists of eight experts in related fields in China and that it would take them about 40 days to meet with officials of related departments, conduct site survey and data collection, and make the preliminary argumentation on location and route plan, in order to lay a solid foundation for the feasibility study of the next stage.

Responding to a question asked by a journalist regarding agreement on financing of the project reached by the government of China and the Maldives, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb said that every government would look for sustainability before implementation of such projects. Minister Adeeb said that location and design of the bridge would be decided after the survey.

“For example, Male’ cannot support the base of the bridge structure. In this case that kind of circumstance may arise. That’s why these studies are conducted thoroughly,” said Minister Adeeb.

Minister Adeeb said that the Chinese government would aid Maldives in Male’-Hulhule’ bridge project, and the loan amount would be decided after the survey.

Fisheries Minister Dr Mohamed Shainee said that there were several options in constructing the bridge, and these options were being evaluated; and the present government would construct the bridge.