The Telegraph: “Georgia can help build a Silk Road of trade from Brighton to Beijing”

The new Silk Road Economic Belt will make it easier for goods to travel overland to and from China, enriching both Europe and Asia, says Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a piece for leading UK news service The Telegraph.

The Georgian official penned a persuasive piece for the web version of The Telegraph, and explained the vision of the new Silk Road and the benefits this could bring to those involved as well as other major players around the world, including the United Kingdom.

For centuries the Silk Road was the most important land route connecting Europe and Asia. This distinctive path became a source of prosperity and intensive trade relationships. It also promoted the exchange of knowledge, experience, and cultural interactions among different countries. We are today breathing new life into this corridor of global prosperity and cooperation” said Garibashvili.

"My government’s goal is to build Georgia into a prosperous country that leverages its geographic location as a vital crossroads connecting East and West, and North and South. A regional hub and centre for exchange, Georgia is Europe’s natural gateway towards Asia.

He stated Georgia was Europe’s "eastern-most entry point by both land and sea” thus was Europe’s "shortcut” to the Silk Road and trade with China. Currently most goods travelled from China to Europe via a long sea route. But by working together, the countries along the Silk Road can transport goods from China to Europe significantly faster and at a fraction of the cost.

Garibashvili noted the Silk Road region accounted for two thirds of the world’s population and 60 per cent of its GDP.

Georgia’s capital Tbilisi held the inaugural Tbilisi Silk Road Forum earlier this month. The Chinese Government was a co-sponsor of the event; and the first time Beijing had helped organise an international event about the Silk Road outside China.

A new era is opening for our region. We have much work to do, but I am excited at the prospect of future forums to spur our progress towards a bright future together,” said Garibashvili.

This project is not just about highlighting Georgia’s role as a bridge between Europe and Asia. It is about creating a shared benefit for all people from Beijing to Brighton and beyond.”

Read the full article here: www.telegraph.co.uk