OpEd: China-Maldives Friendship Bridge: China’s Answer

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge stands right outside my office window, and I cross it every day during my commute between Malé and Hulhumalé. Upon my arrival in Malé, I was struck by the beauty and grandeur of the bridge. But as the days passed and crossing it became part of my daily routine, that initial sense of awe gradually gave way to familiarity. It wasn’t until I began learning more about the bridge that I came to realize—behind its impressive facade lies a story far more extraordinary than its physical form.

The vast ocean has long been the foundation of life and livelihood for Maldivians, however, it is also a barrier to development when it comes to modernization. In the past, the capital Malé was linked to the Airport Island and  Hulhumalé only by ferries. During extreme weather, people could do nothing but wait.

For development to move forward, more land was needed. If a bridge could connect Malé, the Airport Island, and Hulhumalé into one continuous whole, the nation would then greatly boost with its development capacity. Yet many foreign experts came only to leave, daunted by the challenge. The bridge, long awaited by the nation, remained a shared dream still out of reach.

The Maldivian people call the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge “ a landmark project of the century”, and this is no exaggeration.

The bridge spans the Gaadhoo Koa channel, where the lagoon meets the open sea, and waves can surge up to three meters even in calm weather. Added to this were the challenges of complex coral reef geology, intense solar radiation, high humidity, and extreme salinity — conditions so harsh that no precedent existed anywhere in the world. Yet these obstacles did not deter the Chinese engineers. With dedication, efficiency, and comprehensive Chinese technology, they overcame unprecedented technical difficulties that had forced many international competitors to withdraw.

From groundbreaking to operation, the bridge rose in just 33 months — 975 days and nights of unyielding effort. Finally, the long-cherished dream of bridging the strait became reality. China fulfilled its commitment, delivering a modern and magnificent structure across the Indian Ocean, built to stand for a century.

There was a time when cars were a rare sight in Malé. Today, residents often find themselves troubled by traffic congestion, which is a vivid reflection of a rapidly modernizing urban life.

As the saying goes, “To prosper, build roads first.” The bridge has rewritten history of ferries being the only available transportation. It has effectively eased the pressures of overcrowded living conditions and traffic jams in Malé, opened a major transportation artery for Greater Malé, and unlocked new opportunities for urban expansion and economic growth

As the then Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and now President, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, once said: “The geography of the Maldives is unlike any other country in the world. The construction of this bridge will open the door to our development.” Today, the steady flow of vehicles across the bridge echoes the very heartbeat of the Maldivian economy. This bridge of hope has given wings to the nation’s aspirations for growth and transformation.

True to its name, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge stands as a profound monument of the deep bond between the two nations. It was a historic gift from the Chinese people to the Maldivian people, announced during President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to the Maldives in 2014. More than an infrastructure project, the bridge is a lasting testament to the great friendship between China and the Maldives.

With its high standards and quality, the bridge was built in a remarkably short time and at a relatively low cost. The Chinese government provided $100 million in grant aid for the project, and the Chinese contractor, China Communications Construction Company, CCCC bore an additional $100 million to address extra technical expense. The Maldivian government’s total expenditure was only about $74 million, of which $63 million was a loan from China at a rate of just 2%. At that time, the Maldives maintained a healthy debt-to-GDP ratio of around 60%, making the project economically sustainable.

With high efficiency, substantial returns, low costs, and manageable debt, the impact of this bridge has been truly profound. It has helped the Maldivian people remember China and President Xi Jinping, and to appreciate the true meaning of the principle that “countries, big and small, are equals” — a value jointly embodied by China and the Maldives.

A young Maldivian friend once asked me — a question I believe echoes in the hearts of many: Why would the Chinese people come all this way to help the Maldives build this bridge? I told him: because the well-being of the Maldivian people matters to the Chinese people. Building this bridge was not only about connecting islands, but about connecting hearts, opportunities, and futures.

President Xi Jinping once stated: "We advocate inclusive and beneficial economic globalization, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implement the Global Development Initiative. Our goal is to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared, to support inclusive development paths, so that all countries and peoples can share in the fruits of progress. "

I think the reason stems from China’s commitment to three core visions:

The Maldives was among the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and among the earliest to benefit from it. This forward-thinking decision unlocked transformative infrastructure projects, strengthened economic resilience, and deepened ties with China, setting a benchmark for win-win cooperation under the BRI framework. The fundamental principle of the BRI — consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits — has always been about delivering tangible outcomes for the people.

High-quality BRI cooperation is the primary platform for building a community with a shared future between China and its neighboring countries. Together, we strive to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home. China fulfills its promises with concrete actions, working hand in hand with neighboring countries like the Maldives to create a better tomorrow.

Above Tian'anmeGate Tower in Beijing hangs a powerful slogan: “Long live the great unity of the people of the world.” From the very founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have declared to the world our unwavering stance: no matter how the international landscape shifts, China remains firmly committed to safeguarding world peace and promoting global development.

Yes, the Earth is indeed big — with towering mountains and vast oceans. Yet it is also small, for every nation, culture, and people is a unique treasure to be cherished.

I believe that no matter how the world changes with time, the friendship between China and the Maldives will endure—unshakable, like the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge itself, standing steadfast against the tides.