PM’s China visit “historic”, Georgia to have “more active role” in Belt and Road Initiative - Ambassador

Archil Kalandia, Georgia’s Ambassador to China, on Monday described Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s visit to the country that concluded this week as “historic” and added “no visit of such scale” had taken place since establishment of bilateral ties between the two countries 31 years ago. 

In his press comments, the diplomat noted six new documents on cooperation had been signed as part of the visit, along with the sides upgrading their existing cooperation to the level of strategic partnership. 

He said the deals were signed for cooperation in economy, digital and educational areas, as well as for partnership between state audit offices and intellectual property bodies.

The Ambassador said the agreements also involved deals on Georgia’s role in the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by the Chinese authorities in 2013 to build infrastructure for logistics between the country and states in Asia, Europe and Africa. 

He also said unveiling a bust of Shota Rustaveli, the 12th century Georgian poet, at the Beijing University of Language and Culture last week had given a “new impetus” to educational ties, before highlighting the importance of the PM’s meeting with the President of the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank on Sunday. 

Garibashvili’s China trip ran between July 27-31.