Those “fueling” anti-Chinese sentiments aim to turn Georgia into “dead end” rather than corridor - Parliament Speaker
Attempts “to portray” Georgia’s strategic partnership with China as something “special”, in a negative way, is a “manipulation and anti-Georgian propaganda”, the Parliament Speaker noted, adding that many countries, including the European Union and its member states, had strategic ties with China. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday told the media that those who were “fueling” anti-Chinese sentiments in Georgia were attempting to undermine “strategically important projects” and turn Georgia into a “dead end” instead of “a corridor”, connecting Asia to Europe.
It is in the interest of our country [Georgia] to use the Middle Corridor [a logistics route connecting Central Asia and China to Europe], [and] facilitate the transit of goods between Europe and China through the country”, the Parliament Speaker pointed out.
In his comments, Papuashvili slammed representatives of domestic opposition for their “criticism” over the week-long visit of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s delegation to China, which came following the signing of a strategic deal between the states last year, by saying “the opposition disregards national interests [of Georgia]”.
Attempts “to portray” Georgia’s strategic partnership with China as something “special”, in a negative way, is a “manipulation and anti-Georgian propaganda”, the Parliament Speaker noted, adding that many countries, including the European Union and its member states, had strategic ties with China.
He stressed that Georgia’s geopolitical significance always was being “a bridge between Europe and Asia”, particularly emphasising the country’s position on the Silk Road - “beginning in China and ending in Europe”.
Papuashvili also highlighted the importance of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s high-level meetings in Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, stressing these meetings created an opportunity for various organisations and groups to be interested in investing in Georgia.
Georgia’s “unprecedented” economic growth in the last three years is also a result of such high-level meetings, he added.