Georgian FM highlights “important” impetus in Georgia-China strategic partnership

The new strategic partnership between Georgia and China will give a new “important impetus” to their bilateral relations, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday in his remarks over Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s ongoing visit to the country.

The top Georgian diplomat noted trade and economic relations as well as and people-to-people ties would be strengthened by the new status of partnership.

“The Georgian Prime Minister held a very important meeting with the Chinese President. The main message of today's meeting is that the two leaders discussed that the relations between the two countries will move into a new phase. It will be a strategic cooperation”, Darchiashvili said. 

Georgia and China are becoming strategic partners, which will give a new [and] important impetus in our bilateral relations. The process of deepening political relations will be more dynamic. Trade and economic and people-to-people relations between the two countries will also be strengthened, and this will be a new, very strong impetus for the future cooperation of the two countries”, the Georgian official continued.  

Darchiashvili stressed the “historic” significance of the visit, while pointing out the strategic cooperation marked a “new page” in the relations and would “definitely bring concrete tangible results”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership with Georgia and a “new stage” in bilateral ties between the two countries in his meeting with Garibashvili on the sidelines of the Summer World University Games in Chengdu. 

In his turn, Garibashvili highlighted the "importance of friendship and partnership" with China and noted his Government was “committed” to deepening trade and economic ties with Beijing.