China Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin stated that it is the Maldives' government that will decide which projects the USD 130 million grant that China is providing will be used for.
"The grant is a gift from China to the Maldives. It is intended to be used on projects. However, it is up to the Maldives' government to decide which projects the grant will be applied for," Wang Lixin explained.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated upon his return from the State visit to China that the country is providing this grant to the Maldives. The President's Office indicated that the funds may be used in part for road development projects in the capital city.
CHINA OFFICIALLY WELCOME TO PRESIDENT DR MUIZZU
In addition to the grant, the countries signed twenty memorandums of understanding during the visit. China has pledged to offer assistance and cooperation with a large number of development projects and in many areas with the Maldives.
Areas in which China will be providing aid to Maldives
- Fisheries
- Digital economy
- Development of public service media
- Provision of 1000 fully funded scholarships to Maldivian civil servants
- Economic development, expansion of agricultural field
- Tourism promotion, increasing direct flights between the countries, increasing the number of tourist arrivals from China and more extensive marketing efforts
- Development of 30,000 social housing units in RasMale'
- Additional development of Velana International Airport
- Establishing a commercial district in Hulhumale' Second Phase
- Increasing marketing efforts
- Cooperation in the banking field
- Thilafushi Port development
- Setting up an agriculture establishment in Uthuru Thilafalhu
- Establishing a sister city of Fuzhou and Male' City
- Increasing interest in investments related to renewable energy
- Establishing a 100 bed capacity tertiary hospital in VilliMale'
- Donation of equipment required to establish laboratories in health centers of 17 islands
- Arranging grants for shore protection and waste management in four islands
- Agreement on designing RasMale' and Gulhi Falhu, along with construction and the establishment of electricity, water and sanitation services, road development and fire safety services.
China Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin said that extensive work will be done in the coming months to facilitate commencing the implementation of the multiple projects that fall under the signed agreements.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry is taking the lead in coordinating collaborative work on these matters between the two countries. China Embassy in the Maldives and other related authorities from both countries are currently working with the Ministry.