The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge opened to traffic on Thursday. 

This bridge connects the Maldivian capital Male and the island of Hulhule, where Velana International Airport is located. 

The 2.1-kilometer-long bridge has four vehicle lanes and two pedestrian lanes. 

The idea for the bridge was conceived of during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Maldives in September 2014 as one of the “Belt and Road Initiative” projects. 

At the bridge’s ground-breaking ceremony, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen said the bridge is a dream for generations of Maldivians and  a cornerstone for the nation's future, the Global Times reported.

The project was built by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC)’s Second Harbor Engineering Company.

The company’s website said it’s the first pilot project in China’s foreign-aid project reform and the first project funded by the foreign aid capital and national concessional loan.