Chinese Ambassador says Anaklia port project will be “turning point” for cooperation with Georgia

Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the Anaklia port project, in which a Chinese consortium is set to be announced as the Georgian Government’s private partner in the construction of the port, would be “a turning point” for cooperation between China and Georgia within the Chinese global infrastructure development strategy - Belt and Road Initiative and the Middle Corridor, a logistics route connecting Central Asia and China to Europe via the South Caucasus.

In his comments to the media, the Ambassador noted that the China Communications Construction Company Limited was “one of the most acclaimed and the strongest construction companies in the world” and refuted the “misinformation” about the company allegedly being under international sanctions.

He emphasised that his country expected “positive results” and believed “this important project” would highlight the significance of synergy between Georgia and China for the Belt and Road Initiative and the Middle Corridor.

Qian commented on the visa-free travel between China and Georgia, which came into force this week, and noted it was a demonstration of the importance of the strategic partnership between the countries signed last year.

The agreement has also shown that the strategic partnership between Georgia and China is based on mutual respect, the Ambassador said, adding the visa-free travel from the Chinese side was a response to former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s decision to unilaterally establish a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens last year.

He also pointed out that the visa-free regime would enhance the relations between the two countries in various directions and would also create more opportunities for the business sector.