Georgia's Black Sea Adjara region, Chinese province Sichuan sign agreement on establishment of friendly relations

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Huang Qiang, the Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, on Sunday signed an agreement on the establishment of friendly relations between Georgia's autonomous Adjara region and the Sichuan Province.

The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the country’s delegation to China, the Foreign Ministry said.

Photo via MFA of Georgia

After the signing ceremony, the officials discussed the prospects of further deepening relations between the two regions, with the Sichuan Province Governor briefing Georgian FM on the Province’s potential in various directions, including green energy, high technology, tourism potential, etc.

Qiang expressed his readiness to host high-level delegations from Georgia in Sichuan to establish “concrete and result-oriented” cooperation between the regions of China and Georgia.

Photo via MFA of Georgia

On his part, Darchiashvili spoke about Georgia’s geopolitically strategic location and emphasised the country’s importance in the Middle Corridor and Silk Road. He emphasised the growing trend of the tourism potential of Georgia and expressed willingness to develop cooperation with China and its certain provinces, with the aim of a beneficial result for both countries.

Adjara region and its sectoral advantages, including tourism potential and business opportunities, were also highlighted by the FM, noting that the region was “a key transit point”.

The parties welcomed the establishment of “a new stage of cooperation” between the two countries - a strategic partnership, which was announced on Friday by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with the Georgian PM. Darchiashvili and Qiang emphasised the opening of “a new window of opportunities” with the new partnership, which “should be activated” in all directions.