Letters of Exchange (LoEs) were signed with China Aid on Tuesday to finance feasibility studies needed for a project planned by the government to redevelop all the roads of Male' and Vilimale'.
The LoEs were signed during a meeting between the China International Development Cooperation Agency (China Aid) and a three-member ministerial delegation from Maldives on an official visit to China.
Construction Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib signed the LoEs on behalf of the Maldives government. Chairman Luo Zhaohui signed from China Aid.
The government has not revealed a date for signing the agreement or launching the project.
In addition to the Construction Minister, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, Finance Minister Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq and Ambassador-Designate Dr. Fazeel Najeeb participated in the meeting, the Foreign Ministry said.
Redevelopment of roads in Male' and Vilimale' was a campaign pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The public has been repeatedly facing severe difficulties due to the flooding and overdue repairs of Male' roads. A project to solve the problems would cost more than USD 100 million, Construction Minister Muththalib said in January this year.
During the campaign for the last parliamentary elections, President Muizzu said that Chinese grant aid had been secured for the project.
"China has now agreed to build all of the roads in this Male' for free. It has now been arranged and finalised for China to build it for free," the President said on March 25.
On January 4, the government contracted the Road Development Corporation (RDC) for the design and survey of Vilimale' roads as part of the project. However, the cost of the project has not been disclosed to date.
