While China and Maldives are set to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year, both countries have engaged in trade development in the past 50 years, which had exponentially grown starting 2014. In 2014 Chinese President XI Jinping visited the Maldives in what was the first official visit by a Chinese President to the Maldives. Up until that point the highest-ranking diplomat from China to visit the Maldives was former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s visit in 2001.

President Xi Jinping’s visit to the small island state was a clear message that the bilateral relations between both nations were at its highest. President Xi Jinping’s meeting with President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was also marked with the historic announcement of the construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. The project was announced under the China Aid program and was set to be jointly funded with China providing $126 million out of the $210 million budget as grant in aid. This also marked the entry of Maldives into China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

By May 2015 seismic charting and bore hole drilling to conduct feasibility studies and bridge designing were taking place. China Communication Construction Company’s subsidiary China Harbor Engineering Company was contracted to construct the 1.39Km bridge spanning over the sea, connecting Malé city with Hulhulé and the satellite ward Hulhumalé, also known as the “Youth city”.

Prior to the construction of the bridge, travel to Hulhumalé was a time consuming and difficult task as commuters had to take a 20-minute ferry ride across rough seas. The commute was notorious for the excessive waiting periods due to the demand far exceeding the number of available ferries.

China Harbor Construction Company was an established and highly celebrated company with a history of conducting massive construction projects, specializing in coastal and deep-sea construction projects. Their portfolio included the Lekki Deepwater Port in Nigeria, Lolabé port in Cameroon and were known for receiving praise for the construction of the 24Km long Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge in Malaysia, connecting he mainland with Penang island.

By April 2016 the first of a series of platforms required to construct the bridge was completed. The platforms were used to construct an essentially a “temporary bridge” t facilitate the construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. From thereon, construction of the bridge took place at an unprecedented speed even with multiple obstacles.

One of the biggest obstacles that presented for the contractors was the lack of domestic resources. This was due to the fact that a construction project of such magnitude had not taken place in the Maldives, resulting in the lack of domestic construction machineries used in such mega-projects. Every element needed for the project was shipped to the Maldives, and is reported to have been sold to local contractors marks below market rate once the project had finished.

Aside from the lack of resources, Chinese engineers and technicians worked with Maldivian counterparts in identifying technical challenges that presented itself with the construction fo a bridge in the highly unpredictable hydrodynamic conditions which would lead to rapid oxidation and corrosion due to high salinity.

However, these obstacles were overcome through meticulous planning, coordination and innovation. This was evident by the construction of the pile foundation which reached a maximum depth of 73m below the sea bed, while adhering to strict environmental policies with the contractor completing the project without damaging the local underwater ecosystem.

By February 2018 the 540m approach bridge in Malé city side and the 90m approach bridge in Hulhulé side had been completed as the contractor worked on connecting the approach bridges with the 760m central bridge section.

On 30^th August 2018 the China Maldives Friendship Bridge was inaugurated by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Representative of the Chinese Government and the Head of the International Development Cooperation Agency of China, His Excellency Wang Xiaotao.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge instantly led to a boom in the development and growth of Hulhumalé. The connectivity led to greater synergy in the Greater Malé City Area as local businesses and housing sector grew at an unprecedented rate.

However, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge represents more than just a connectivity project. It is a testament that even a small island state such as the Maldives can achieve development and prosperity. China’s Belt and Road Initiative is an opportunity for developing states, especially small island states to achieve their full potential through trade and development.

Moreover, the Belt and Road Initiative is an opportunity for developing nations to effectively “stand on their on feet” by developing the facilities for future independent development. The Belt and Road Initiative does not dictate or enforce Government’s to adopt certain policies, views, or religion. It is an opportunity, to trade in a free and fair market, to develop at the comfort of their own pace and to grow, as a nation and as a civilization.