At a colourful ceremony held this morning in the Media Centre of Male’ City Council, Her Excellency Wang Lixin, Ambassador of China to the Maldives and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Mayor of Male’ City presided over the donation of 3000 LED street lights by the Chinese Embassy to the Male’ City Council, to improve municipal street lighting in the capital.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Wang Lixin highlighted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Maldives. Ambassador Wang noted that “over the past five decades, [the] two countries [had] always respected each other, treated each other as equals, helped each other with sincerity, and firmly supported each other in the issues related to core interests and major concerns”. She went on to emphasize that China-Maldives relations had become a “model of friendly exchanges, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among countries”.
In her remarks, the Ambassador spoke of the many initiatives that had cemented bilateral and development ties between the two countries, including the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which completed four years of service recently, as well as social housing developments in Hulhumale’, power generation capacity building in Male’ and the expansion of Velana International Airport. In conclusion, China’s Ambassador to the Maldives thanked Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Male’ City Council. “Our two countries are jointly embarking on a road towards hope, prosperity and happiness”, she said. Furthermore, the Ambassador expressed her sincere hope that the new LED street lights will “illuminate the road of happiness for the local people while making Male’ much brighter and more beautiful”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Mayor of Male’ City thanked Ambassador Wang Lixin, the staff at the Chinese Embassy, as well as the government and people of China, for the generous donation. He expressed his confidence that the replacement of the aged street lights in Male’ with the new LED lights gifted this morning would make the streets of Male’ safer and more convenient for residents, and that they would also lead to a marked saving on energy consumption and related power bills.
Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the donation made this morning adds to a very long list of assistance by China that were already benefiting the people of Male’. “China has always focused on development cooperation that directly benefits the people and remain as visible reminders of a true friendship founded on mutual trust and respect”, the Mayor noted.
Reiterating Ambassador Wang’s sentiments, the Mayor also emphasized the importance of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which he said is the “symbol of hope and progress in the city of Male’ over the past four years”. Dr. Muizzu added that his deep appreciation for China and her friendly people had been fostered during his previous portfolio as the country’s Housing Minister during the administration of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
“The tremendous contribution of China to the post-independence socioeconomic development of the Maldives has created a lasting bond of friendship between our two peoples”, the Mayor highlighted in his remarks.
At this morning’s ceremony, letters were exchanged to formalize the donation, and the very first street light was also installed in the presence of Ambassador Wang Lixin and Mayor Dr. Muizzu. The function was attended by officials of the Chinese Embassy and the Members of the Male’ City Council.
This morning’s ceremony was telecast live on Channel 13 and SanguTV.