Chinese constructors in Maldives: advocates of social responsibility

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge

On Aug 30, 2018, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, jointly promoted by China and the Maldives, and built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was completed and opened to traffic.

Spanning the Gaadhoo Koa Strait, the bridge connects the capital of the Maldives, Malé Island, the Airport Island, and the new city of Hulhumalé, with a total length of 2 kilometers. Starting in March 2016, Chinese constructors endured 33 months of hard work to complete the Maldives' first sea-crossing bridge.

The completion of the bridge has effectively improved the transportation environment for residents on both sides of the connected areas, promoting regional economic development in the Greater Malé area. Five years since its opening, the bridge has witnessed a traffic flow of over one billion people and facilitated the flow of local resources, having a transformative impact on the Maldives.

Behind the construction of the bridge lies the vivid practice of Chinese builders in promoting infrastructural connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

Tourism and fishing are the two main pillars of the Maldives' economy and the main sources of foreign exchange income. The Maldives insists on protecting the environment and leveraging its own resource advantages, actively attracting foreign funds and assistance, and accelerating economic development. Therefore, the local standards for construction waste discharge and treatment are strict, which places high demands on construction organizations and on-site management.

The project team collects toxic welding slag to prevent sea pollution

To prevent welding slag from polluting the sea, the project team strictly collected the welding slag in steel tubes. "The tubes are convenient to use and cost-effective. Welding slag is toxic, so we carefully collect it and put it in the tube before bringing it back to the sorting area for centralized treatment," said Li Jianbo, a welder of the project team.

In addition to their efforts in environmental protection, Chinese constructors also organized the establishment of a youth volunteer service team. On November 28, 2016, a residential building in the center of Malé caught fire, resulting in severe damage to five buildings and leaving nearly 200 people homeless. Upon hearing the news, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge project team immediately convened a youth volunteer team and swiftly transported 50 boxes of water, 50 kilograms of noodles, and other supplies to the disaster relief center.

The youth volunteer service team provides supplies to the disaster relief center

Wang Chao, one of the project leaders involved in the construction of the bridge, said, "The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge is a long-awaited dream bridge for the Maldivian people. We consider building a safe, high-quality, and efficient bridge as a solemn commitment. At the same time, we actively fulfill our social responsibilities and showcase China's image because, here, we represent China!"