# Zhang Lizhong _3rd Resident Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Maldives (2017–2021)_ - Type: Person - Also known as: Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, 张利忠, H.E. Zhang Lizhong (张利忠) - Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Zhang Lizhong is a Chinese diplomat who served from August 2017 to April 2021 as the third resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Maldives, and subsequently as Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda (2021–2026). His Malé tenure spanned the final year of President Abdulla Yameen's administration and the first half of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, encompassing the opening of the Sinamalé Bridge, public disputes over Chinese debt figures, and the 2020 G20 DSSI debt suspension. ## Key facts - Malé tenure: Served as the third resident Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives from 29 August 2017 to 7 April 2021 across the Yameen and Solih administrations. - Flagship bridge opening: Co-presided over the 30 August 2018 inauguration of the USD 200 million, 2.0-kilometre Sinamalé Bridge linking Malé, Hulhulé, and Hulhumalé. - DSSI debt suspension: Negotiated China's June 2020 G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) relief covering roughly USD 600 million in direct sovereign loans. - Subsequent ambassadorial post: Served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Uganda from June 2021 to January 2026. - Maldivian administrations covered: Includes President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom (2017–2018) and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (2018–2021) ## Sinamalé Bridge delivery, the 2018 transition, and the Chinese debt debate _Zhang Lizhong's tenure in Malé spanned the peak of Yameen-era infrastructure deliveries and the sharpest public debates over Chinese lending following the 2018 change of government._ **Competing Chinese debt figures debated during Zhang Lizhong's tenure (2018–2020)** - G20 DSSI direct sovereign subset (June 2020): Direct government-to-government concessional loans covered by China's temporary debt service suspension.. USD 600 million - Ministry of Finance & Embassy official exposure (2020): Disbursed and contracted sovereign and sovereign-guaranteed loans cited by the Ministry of Finance and Ambassador Zhang Lizhong.. USD 1.4–1.5 billion - Mohamed Nasheed public estimate (2018–2020): Aggregate figure claimed by former President and Majlis Speaker Mohamed Nasheed including SOE contracts and private resort guarantees.. USD 3.1 billion **Key episodes of Zhang Lizhong's ambassadorship in Malé** - Culmination of Yameen-Era Flagships (Aug 2017 – Nov 2018): Within four months of presenting credentials on 29 August 2017, Zhang oversaw President Yameen's December 2017 state visit to Beijing, where the China–Maldives Free Trade Agreement and the Makunudhoo Joint Ocean Observation Station protocol were signed alongside the USD 437 million ICBC sovereign-guaranteed loan for the 7,000-unit Hiyaa housing project. On 30 August 2018, he co-presided over the opening of the USD 200 million Sinamalé Bridge.. Deliveries: Sinamalé Bridge opened 30 August 2018; Hiyaa 7,000-unit structural works advanced by CSCEC. - Public Exchanges over Debt Stock and Cancelled Makunudhoo Station (2018–2020): After the MDP government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office in November 2018, former President and Majlis Speaker Mohamed Nasheed repeatedly accused Chinese lenders of trapping the Maldives in USD 3.1 billion of debt and seizing islands. Ambassador Zhang actively used press briefings and social media to rebut Nasheed's figures, pointing to Ministry of Finance records showing USD 1.4–1.5 billion in sovereign and guaranteed loans, while maintaining working relations with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as Malé shelved the 2017 FTA and cancelled the Makunudhoo ocean observation station in June 2019.. Policy shifts under Solih: Makunudhoo station cancelled (June 2019); 2015 land amendment repealed (2019); 2017 FTA kept inactive. - COVID-19 G20 DSSI Debt Suspension & Hiyaa Handover (2020–2021): During the 2020 COVID-19 border closure, Zhang coordinated Chinese medical supply donations and the June 2020 agreement under the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) suspending repayments on roughly USD 600 million in direct sovereign loans (excluding sovereign-guaranteed commercial loans such as the USD 437m ICBC Hiyaa facility and the USD 127.5m Sun Siyam loan). He paid his farewell call on President Solih on 7 April 2021.. Farewell call: 7 April 2021; succeeded by Ambassador Wang Lixin in September 2021. ## Timeline - 2017-08-29: Presents Letter of Credence to President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Zhang Lizhong presents his credentials to President Yameen in Malé as the third resident Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives. - December 2017: Signing of the China–Maldives FTA and Hiyaa 7,000-unit housing loan. Accompanies the signing of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement during President Yameen's state visit to Beijing and the USD 437 million ICBC sovereign-guaranteed commercial loan for the Hiyaa housing towers. - 2018-08-30: Inauguration of the USD 200 million China–Maldives Friendship Bridge (Sinamalé Bridge). Co-presides over the opening of the 2.0 km cross-sea bridge connecting Malé, Hulhulé, and Hulhumalé. - 2020-06-23: Coordinates G20 DSSI suspension on USD 600 million in direct sovereign debt. Concludes bilateral arrangements under the G20 DSSI framework to temporarily suspend repayments on roughly USD 600 million in direct government-to-government Chinese loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. - 2021-04-07: Pays farewell call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and departs for Uganda. Pays his farewell call on President Solih on 7 April 2021 before taking up his subsequent appointment as Chinese Ambassador to Uganda (2021–2026). ## Sources - [New Chinese Ambassador presents credentials to the President](https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/18161). The President's Office (Maldives), 29 August 2017 - [Chinese Ambassador pays farewell call on President Solih](https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/24502). The President's Office (Maldives), 7 April 2021 - [Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong bids farewell to Maldives](https://en02.sun.mv/68627). Sun Online, 7 April 2021 - [Chinese debt casts shadow over Maldives economy](https://www.livemint.com/news/world/chinese-debt-casts-shadow-over-maldives-economy-11600391729162.html). Mint (Livemint), 18 September 2020 - [China to suspend debt repayment for four years: President Solih](https://edition.mv/news/17454). The Edition, 23 June 2020 - [Sinamale Bridge: USD 200 million project cost breakdown](https://edition.mv/news/43821). The Edition, 30 August 2018 - [Chinese Investment in the Maldives: Appraising the String of Pearls](https://amti.csis.org/chinese-investment-in-the-maldives-appraising-the-string-of-pearls/). Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) — Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 4 September 2020 - [China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Portal and Text](https://trade.gov.mv/en/fta-china-maldives/). Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (Maldives), Viewed 19 October 2026 - [Ambassador Zhang Lizhong bids farewell to Uganda upon conclusion of tenure](https://ug.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/xwdt/202601/t20260126_11845557.htm). Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Uganda, 26 January 2026 --- Canonical URL: https://www.goodmorningmaldives.com/entities/zhang-lizhong Source: Good Morning Maldives. Cite the canonical URL when quoting.