China Daily: “A Silk Road ‘shortcut’ for China, Europe”

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has penned an article for China Daily explaining Georgia’s role as a "natural gateway to Asia” while on an official visit to the Asian nation.

Garibashvili, who is in China to attend the World Economic Forum in Dalian, said the purpose of his visit was to "strengthen the already friendly relations between Georgia and China and to discuss new avenues for deeper cooperation.”

Georgia and China already enjoy close ties. In recent years, trade with and foreign direct investment from China has grown substantially, where in 2014, China was Georgia’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment.

Georgia strongly welcomes China's Silk Road Economic Belt project, which offers a strategically important opportunity to deepen economic and cultural ties between Asia and Europe,” writes Garibashvili in the piece.

"As part of Georgia's regional leadership role, we have deepened cooperation with China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to integrate transportation corridors and open new routes. Of importance, the Silk Wind Multi-modal Block Train project has the potential to bring goods from China to Western Europe in record time, utilizing a safe and efficient transportation corridor.”

I strongly believe that the sustainable development of Eurasia will largely depend upon strengthening channels of communication and trade across this vast area. Connectivity across the Eurasian landmass needs a doorway through which China and Europe can connect. Working together, China and Georgia can ensure that the new Silk Road becomes a true force for positive economic growth, trade and cooperation.”

Read the full article here: www.chinadaily.com.cn