Male, Aug 31 (IANS): The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the first cross-sea bridge in the Maldives, has opened for traffic.
Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen and representatives of the Chinese government and head of China's International Development Cooperation Agency Wang Xiaotao attended the bridge opening ceremony on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.
Speaing at the occasion, President Yameen said the bridge was an embodiment of the long relations between the Maldives and China.
The Chinese government had always been a willing partner for the Maldives and the bridge has proven that nothing was impossible through genuine partnership.
Connecting capital Male and neighbouring Hulhule island where the Maldives' main international airport is located, the two-kilometre bridge makes it possible for locals and tourists to transfer between the two islands on land within five minutes.