Foreign Minister: Georgia has “proved itself as reliable partner” for EU, China
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said Georgia had “proved itself as a reliable partner” for both the European Union and China. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said Georgia had “proved itself as a reliable partner” for both the European Union and China.
In comments at the Parliament on his office’s work, the Minister noted Georgia was the only country in the region that has signed a free trade agreement both with the EU and China.
Georgia has proved itself as a reliable partner for both the EU and China. We are actively using the opportunity provided by these two agreements and increasing the volume of trade in both directions”, he said.
Darchiashvili highlighted the “centuries-old history of trade and economic cooperation” between Georgia and China within the historical Silk Road.
The FM also noted trade had increased “significantly” between the two states since the free trade deal came into effect in 2018, with Georgian exports to the Chinese market rising in particular. He told MPs China now was one of the three largest trade partner countries of Georgia.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the Government was paying “special attention” to strengthening the country's transit function.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili highlighted the strategic partnership between Georgia and China by calling it a “very important” decision that would yield results for both countries.
Georgian and Chinese Governments on Monday shared their “commitment” to expand cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields, strengthen collaboration in international affairs and bilateral relations, and safeguard regional and world peace, stability and development together in a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Friday told the Parliament the Government had acted “in full compliance” with the country’s Constitution when it signed a strategic partnership agreement with China in July without the consent of the Parliament.
The Georgian capital city of Tbilisi will host the fourth edition of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event set to host thousands of representatives from 60 countries between October 26-27 “at a high level”, the Ministry of Economy on Thursday said.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said the future of the European Union would be “more secure and reliable” if Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova became members of the bloc.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Friday said even the governments who were the “biggest sceptics” of the enlargement of the European Union “strongly supported” Georgia’s integration into the bloc.