Georgian PM - Gov’t has “utmost desire” to deepen strategic partnership with both US and China
He also mentioned his “frank conversation” with Robin Dunnigan, the Ambassador of the US to the country, earlier during the day, adding the diplomat had expressed the desire to have a “more intensive strategic partnership” between the countries. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said his Government had “utmost desire” to maintain strategic partnership with both the United States and China.
On our part, there is utmost desire to deepen the strategic partnership both with the United States of America and China. The rest depends on the respective countries. Relationships are not one-way, but two-way issues", he said.
The Government head emphasised deepening the strategic partnerships in political and economical directions was “very important” for the Georgian Government, adding the ties with the countries were a “mutual affair [and] therefore the priorities are [also] determined mutually”.
Of course, we have a long history of partnership with the United States, and strategic partnership was established with China last year, when a relevant agreement was signed last year. But I will repeat it again - in both cases we have a strategic partnership, and we want to deepen these relations even more”, he said.
The PM added China had “great interest” in deepening relations with Georgia, which he said was also expressed in “concrete steps and very active trade and economic bilateral relations”. Kobakhidze noted Chinese companies were “very actively involved” in “mutually important” economic projects.
We have a free trade agreement signed with China, which has facilitated the development of these trade and economic relations. We have direct flights with China, these direct flights were restored very soon after the Coronavirus pandemic, by the decision of the Chinese side. You also saw that when Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili arrived in China, he was welcomed at the highest level", Kobakhidze said.
The official said over the years there had been a “certain manifestation of the weakening of interest in strategic partnership” between Georgia and the US, which he called an “unfortunate development”.
This was also expressed in concrete details - for example, there have been no high-level visits between the countries for many years, [for] about six, seven years. This is manifested, among other things, in protocol issues [as well] - for example, if we take [formal messages of] congratulations, probably for the eighth year at the highest level, none of the presidents or the prime minister received congratulations from the United States”, he said.
“In terms of trade and economic relations, we still do not have a good situation, we do not have direct flights, we do not have visa-free travel”, Kobakhidze pointed out, adding “of course, all these issues need to be improved”.
He also mentioned his “frank conversation” with Robin Dunnigan, the Ambassador of the US to the country, earlier during the day, adding the diplomat had expressed the desire to have a “more intensive strategic partnership” between the countries.
The strategic cooperation between Georgia and the United States and prospects for its strengthening were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Robin Dunnigan, the Ambassador of the US to the country.
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.
Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said she was “very pleased” over Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s first official visit to Brussels this week and said she hoped to see the country as a member of the European Union in “years ahead”.
Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said western integration was “important” for the economic development of the country and for launching visa-free travel with the US.
Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday noted her office’s “positive” cooperation with Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of the country.
Georgian and Chinese Governments on Monday shared their “commitment” to expand cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields, strengthen collaboration in international affairs and bilateral relations, and safeguard regional and world peace, stability and development together in a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership.
The new strategic partnership between Georgia and China will give a new “important impetus” to their bilateral relations, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday in his remarks over Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s ongoing visit to the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday announced establishment of a strategic partnership with Georgia and a “new stage” in bilateral ties between the two countries in his meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on the sidelines of the Summer World University Games in Chengdu.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the topic of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili had “never” been mentioned in meetings with European Union officials during his visit to Brussels this week.
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 Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Saturday said the Ministry was “using all tools” to attract American airlines to operate in Georgia, citing the “impressive” passenger flow figures between the two countries, which amounted to 75 thousand in 2023.
The defence cooperation between Georgia and the United States was discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani and Daniel Lasika, the Director of Planning, Policy, Strategy and Capabilities of the US European Command.