China-Maldives Friendship Bridge construction milestone

Construction to connect the two sides of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has been completed on Monday, reports the Xinhua News Agency.

This marks a key step in the bridge's construction work.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. [Photo provided to China Plus]

Part of the "Belt and Road Initiative," the Chinese-financed project was officially launched during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Maldives in 2014.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. [Photo provided to China Plus]

The 2 kilometer long bridge links the Maldives' capital Malé to the island of Hulhulé, where an international airport is located.

China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) is the main contractor of the project.

Workers on the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, July 9, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Yang Tianshu]

Umar Zahir, former Construction Minister of the Maldives, says the bridge has been a "dream" of the Maldivian people for half a century, saying Chinese construction teams have helped their dreams come true.