Parliament speaker: Japan interested in “closer relations” with Georgia
Papuashvili met with the speaker of the Japanese parliament and the chair of the foreign relations committee while in the capital. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who is on a working visit to Japan, on Monday said Tokyo was interested in ensuring “closer relations” with Georgia.
Papuashvili met with the speaker of the Japanese parliament and the chair of the foreign relations committee while in the capital.
We had an intensive talk about Russia's aggression against Ukraine [its] occupation policy [of Georgian territories] and [resulting] security challenges in Georgia. There is also great interest in cooperation with Georgia in the field of renewable energy. Japan is interested in closer relations with Georgia”, the parliament speaker said.
In his remarks, Papuashvili stressed it was “important” that Japan “clearly expressed” its position regarding Russia's policy and recognised the importance of supporting the rules-based international order.
He also noted the Japanese government’s interest in deepening economic relations, in particular in its renewable energy cooperation with Georgia.
There is great interest in cooperation with Georgia in the field of renewable energy. Japanese companies are already cooperating with Georgia in this regard, although there is a great interest in increasing this cooperation due to the fact that Georgia has a great potential in terms of renewable energy production”, the parliament official said.
Papuashvili also noted the role of Georgia as a “link between Europe and Asia” in his remarks on prospects of cooperation between the two states.
Parliamentary cooperation and relations between Georgia and Japan were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Hosoda Hiroyuki, the speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan.
A delegation of the Georgian parliament, led by the speaker Shalva Papuashvili, on Monday started its working visit to Tokyo to meet Japanese counterparts and review cooperation between the institutions of the two countries.
Georgian deputy economy minister Genadi Arveladze promoted the country’s economic environment at the Georgian-Japanese business forum in Tbilisi, the ministry of economy announced on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili discussed the “high level” of partnership between Georgia and Japan and their successful cooperation in various fields with Akihiko Tanaka, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, at a meeting as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Monday.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the country remained an “island of peace” on the backdrop of security challenges in the region and maintained an “important function” as a conductor of alternative energy supplies.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday met with representatives of Tokyo Electric Power Company and Itochu Corporation to promote Georgia's investment and transit potential, the parliament of Georgia announced.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday summarised the Georgian delegation’s working visit to Japan as “very fruitful” and said the relationship between the two countries entered a “completely” new stage.
The “dynamic and fruitful” relations between Georgia and South Korea and readiness to further deepen cooperation were discussed on Thursday between Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Kim Jin-pyo, the speaker of South Korea’s national assembly.
Georgian culture minister Tea Tsulukiani and Akira Imamura, the ambassador of Japan to Georgia attended the closing event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Japan on Saturday at the Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi.
The trade and economic ties between Georgia and Japan, as well as the prospects for their further development, were discussed on Thursday by Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, Nishimura Yasutoshi, at the meeting held as part of Darchiashvili’s official visit to Tokyo.