Georgian PM, Chinese Ambassador review strategic partnership
The meeting focused on the cooperation between the Parliament of Georgia and the National People's Congress of China, noting parliamentary friendship groups had been established in both legislatures to expand relations. Photo: Government Administration
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The “close relations” between Georgia and China, their elevation to strategic partnership last year, and future prospects of cooperation were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia.
The officials welcomed the intensification of cooperation in “various fields” and said they hoped the strategic relations would contribute to “further development” of sectoral, economic and trade relations as well as people-to-people ties, the Georgian Government Administration said.
The meeting focused on the cooperation between the Parliament of Georgia and the National People's Congress of China, noting parliamentary friendship groups had been established in both legislatures to expand relations.
Economic cooperation was also emphasised, with the officials emphasising China was among the top five trade partners of Georgia, with the trade turnover between the states exceeding $1.5 billion between January and November of 2023.
The meeting also discussed the “successful” cooperation of the two countries in developing Georgia's “special” geopolitical location, which they said increased the country's potential as an “East-West connecting corridor”.
Kobakhidze once again expressed the “strong support” of his Government to the One China principle, with the sides also reaffirming their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the country’s cooperation with China was “extremely important”, and further pointed out the ties could “bring very tangible results for our country and citizens”.
Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday highlighted the ongoing visit of the party’s delegation to China as having a “great role” in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
A delegation of the ruling Georgian Dream party led by its Chair Irakli Kobakhidze will on Monday hold “high-level” meetings in China, the party's press office said.
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 Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said his Government had “utmost desire” to maintain strategic partnership with both the United States and China.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Saturday said Georgia’s cooperation with China did not rule out or prevent the deepening of relations with the United States.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said the Chinese Government had made a decision to introduce visa-free travel to the country for Georgian citizens.
The Chinese Government’s introduction of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens “emphasises its attitude toward Georgia” and the strategic partnership between the countries, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Monday.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday highlighted the importance of Georgia’s strategic partnership with China for the matter of the country’s territorial integrity.
Irakli Chikovani, the Minister of Defence of Georgia, on Monday met Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to the country, to discuss strategic partnership.