PM rebukes President's statement on Chinese leader in meeting with Ambassador
Garibashvili also claimed the President had put the international image of Georgia “in an embarrassing position”. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday told Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, that comments by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Saturday said seeing the Russian and Chinese leaders put on trial would be a “historic outcome”, were “categorically unacceptable and disturbing”.
Zourabichvili told France’s LCI channel the prospect of the leaders of the two countries facing court would “clarify certain matters”.
In his meeting with Qian, Garibashvili said he hoped Zourabichvili’s statement would not “affect or damage” the “extremely positive historical dynamics” of the relations between the two countries, the Government Administration said.
The PM stressed the President’s “rhetoric contradicts the attitude of the Georgian Government and the Georgian citizens towards China and does not correspond to the spirit of friendly, strategic partnership between the two countries, and it harms the existing friendly and partnership relations between the two countries”.
The Government head also highlighted Georgia’s status as a parliamentary republic where the President “does not implement the country's foreign policy”, and noted the task was the “exclusive authority” of the Government. He further added the President’s remarks did “not even formally express the attitude of the Georgian Government towards the Chinese state and its leader”.
The PM added it was “not the first time” Zourabichvili, “in violation of the Constitution and to the detriment of state interests”, was “carrying out separate activities” and “making her own assessments on international matters that are not in line with the position of the country's Government”.
Garibashvili also claimed the President had put the international image of Georgia “in an embarrassing position”.
In their meeting, the officials noted the “friendly and strategic” partnership between their countries and discussed the “current agenda” of bilateral relations, the Administration said.
The meeting highlighted the intensification of cooperation “in various fields”, with the officials expressing their hope the recently established format of strategic relations would contribute to a further development of sectoral, economic and trade relations, as well as people-to-people ties.
The meeting also emphasised the “successful” cooperation of the two countries in development of Georgia's special geopolitical location that “increases the country's potential as a West-East connecting corridor”.
The sides highlighted the “historical importance” of the visit made by Garibashvili to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and its “greatest role” in strengthening the ties between Georgia and China “at the strategic level”.
The Georgian Prime Minister “highly praised” the “special role” of the Chinese President, his “vision” and “achievements of effective governance” in China's transformation and development, as well as the “various large-scale reforms” planned by the Chinese Government.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday announced visa-free travel to the country for Chinese citizens, citing attracting visitors and mutual economic investments among “main interests” behind the decision.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said his country’s relations with China had entered a “new phase of cooperation” through the establishment of a strategic partnership between them.
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.
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.
Georgian Education Minister Giorgi Amilakhvari on Monday said comments by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Saturday said seeing the Chinese leader put on trial would be a “historic outcome”, were “categorically unacceptable”.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday said comments by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Saturday said seeing the Chinese leader put on trial would be a “historic outcome”, were “damaging”, “ignored citizen’s interests” and “created embarrassment”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday criticised “damaging” statements by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Saturday said seeing the Chinese leader put on trial would be a “historic outcome”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili was “trying to somehow damage the country’s interests” after the latter on Saturday said in an interview seeing the Chinese leader put on trial would be a “historic outcome”.
The Georgian President’s Office on Tuesday rejected allegations that Salome Zourabichvili had made a mention of the Chinese President Xi Jinping “in a negative context” in her interview with France’s LCI TV channel last week, claiming the President had limited her criticism to her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday rebuked a remark by President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Thursday called Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party the “only oligarch” in the domestic politics.
Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday highlighted steps taken within the strategic partnership between the two countries by saying China was “always committed” to assisting Georgia in improving social and economic growth.
Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, on Sunday said high-level visits and contacts between the governments of China and Georgia were contributing to the deepening of cooperation in “various fields”, and further pointed out “we are already seeing tangible results”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Wednesday criticised negative statements by the domestic opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream party on the signing of a strategic partnership between Georgia and China earlier this year as “baseless and often irresponsible ”.