Ruling party founder says deepening cooperation with China “not an alternative” to ties with US, EU

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the deepening of the country’s cooperation with China was “not an alternative” to cooperation with the United States and the European Union.

In his comments at an event launching the election campaign of the ruling party, Ivanishvili noted the development was a “complementary factor” for the joint cooperation that should deepen in the coming years.

“In order for Georgia to develop its connecting function in terms of trade and economic ties, it is necessary to cooperate with both sides of the trade and economic relations - the West and the East”, he noted.  

The party official further expressed his confidence that efforts by the Government would be “appreciated in the West as soon as next year”.