Chinese Ambassador highlights 48% increase in bilateral trade turnover with Georgia in 2023

Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, on Saturday noted the bilateral trade turnover with Georgia amounted to $2 billion and increased by 48 percent in 2023, compared to the previous year, highlighting the total number of investments from China to Georgia that exceeded $800 million.

For many years, China has been one of Georgia’s leading trade partners and the largest investor [...] Georgia is interesting for Chinese companies because of its favourable geographical location and free trade regimes with many countries”, the Ambassador said in his exclusive interview with Imedi TV channel.

Qian emphasised that the Chinese companies were also “ready” to engage in the process of developing Georgia as an energy, transport and digital hub, and stressed the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two states and the implementation of the visa-free regime would be beneficial in this regard.

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He noted the Chinese Railway Department was prepared to be “actively involved” in the investment, construction and operation of the Georgian railway, ports, as well as energy and other projects, which would be connected to the Middle Corridor, a multimodal transport corridor connecting China to Europe through the South Caucasus.

Georgia’s involvement in the One Belt One Road initiative, the Chinese global infrastructure development strategy to invest in more than 150 countries, was also highlighted by the Chinese Ambassador, who said the country was “the first to respond to” this initiative and become a beneficiary of China’s “huge market”.

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Qian announced the visa-free regime between the countries would “most likely” be officially signed in April and would be implemented in the coming months, and noted China and Georgia were “actively working” to add more direct flights.

This will undoubtedly actively facilitate people-to-people contacts. In addition to the fact that the number of Chinese tourists [in Georgia] will increase, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries will also become more active. I hope that the Chinese and Georgian people will preserve the spirit of the historical Silk Road and strengthen cooperation in the future”, the Chinese Ambassador emphasised.

He also said Georgia was set to take part in the international tourism exhibition - ITB China in May, which would be hosted in Shanghai, and pointed out it would “further promote” Georgia in China, as well as cooperation between tourist agencies of the two states.