On September 13, Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives H.E. Mr. Kong Xianhua met with a team of engineers from the Maldives’ Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development who are preparing to travel to China for training. Counselor Zhang Xu of the Embassy was also present.

The engineers expressed their hope to gain professional knowledge on bridge maintenance, modern technologies and other areas through the training program in China, bring advanced technologies back to the Maldives, share their knowledge with more people, and apply it widely to the maintenance of bridges, including the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.

Ambassador Kong said that the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge is a gift from China to the Maldivian people, and that China is ready to teach Maldivian friends how to fish rather than simply give them fish, helping them master bridge maintenance technologies. He hoped that they would view their trip to China for training as a journey to broaden their horizons, during which, in addition to acquiring professional knowledge, they would also make full use of the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture, make friends with the Chinese people, and help foster greater mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.