“It is fair to say that China and Georgia have become good friends who trust each other and sincere partners in cooperation,” said Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Zhou Qian at the joint briefing with Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili.
According to the Chinese Ambassador, Georgia and China firmly support each other’s chosen development path, as well as safeguarding each other’s core interests, sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity.
“Today marks the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Georgia. Just moments ago, President XI Jinping and President Mikheil Kavelashvili jointly announced in their congratulatory messages the decision to upgrade China-Georgia relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
I am delighted to be here with all of you to celebrate this historic and encouraging moment. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Georgia, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the guests attending today’s event, as well as to friends from all walks of life who have long cared for and supported China-Georgia friendship!
Thirty-four years ago, China, as one of the first countries to recognize Georgia’s independence, established diplomatic ties with Georgia. Over the past 34 years, China and Georgia have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefits, and win-win cooperation, continuously deepening political mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, and strengthening people-to-people friendship. It is fair to say that China and Georgia have become good friends who trust each other and sincere partners in cooperation. Both sides firmly support each other’s development path chosen by their people and suited to their national conditions, and firmly support each other in safeguarding their core interests, sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity,” he said.
As Zhou Qian noted, Georgia is the first country in the Eurasian region to sign a free trade agreement with China, and it is also one of the earliest cooperation partners for the Belt and Road Initiative.
“In 2023, China and Georgia announced the establishment of strategic partnership, bringing bilateral relations to a fast track. In terms of high-level and political exchanges, since last year, a number of high-ranking Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Education Givi Mikanadze, and Minister of Sports Shalva Gogoladze, have visited China, while multiple Chinese delegations have visited Georgia to discuss common development and cooperation. In the face of profound changes in the international landscape, China and Georgia have strengthened communication and coordination, jointly upheld multilateralism, and promoted openness and international cooperation, playing a positive role together in advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
In terms of economic and trade cooperation, the two sides signed a protocol to upgrade the free trade agreement in April of this year, which further promotes and facilitates direct investment between China and Georgia. In 2025, the two countries signed multiple cooperation agreements covering aviation, environmental protection, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and other fields. BASIS Bank, a Chinese-holding company, has successfully acquired Liberty Bank, becoming Georgia’s third-largest commercial bank. Bilateral trade volume between our countries has continued to rise, reaching 2.7 billion US dollars last year, registering a 19.5% year-on-year increase. High-quality Georgian agricultural and food products, such as wine, spices, and mineral water, are entering the Chinese market at an accelerated pace, while various high-quality Chinese products are also very popular among Georgian consumers.
The Ambassador emphasized that in terms of people-to-people exchanges, the China-Georgia visa-free agreement came into force in 2024, leading to a significant growth in cross-border travel between the two countries.
“Last year, Georgia received 128,000 Chinese tourists, a number up by 44% compared with the previous year. In the first quarter of this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Georgia exceeded 20,000, marking a 48.6% year-on-year increase, and “exploring God’s Backyard Garden” has become a trending topic among Chinese netizens. The two sides have signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education diplomas, and Chinese has been included as a second foreign language in Georgia’s public general education system.
Many young Georgian students are choosing China as their destination for further studies. Beijing Foreign Studies University has launched the first Georgian language major in Chinese universities, which I believe will further boost people-to-people bonds and cultural exchange between our two nations. Over the past two years, I have engaged in in-depth exchanges with friends from various regions in Georgia, during which I have wholeheartedly felt the hospitality and friendliness of the Georgian people, and become more convinced of the strong public foundation of mutual respect and trust between the two peoples, as well as the bright prospects for our bilateral relations.
Since 2023, Sichuan Province in China has established sisterhood relationships with the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and Tbilisi. Such ties have also been established between Guizhou Province and Imereti, and Shaoguan City in Guangdong Province and Rustavi City, further deepening people-to-people friendship and local cooperation,” he said.
On this special day, the heads of state of both countries jointly announced the establishment of the China-Georgia comprehensive strategic partnership. This is a significant milestone in the history of our bilateral relations and represents a strategic choice for the future. This decision underscores the high level of mutual trust between our two countries, rooted in shared long-term interests, as well as our firm commitment to sharing opportunities, coping with challenges and jointly building a brighter future. The comprehensive strategic partnership is sure to bring more dividends for deepening political mutual trust and enriching our cooperation.
There is a Chinese idiom that goes: “To go one step further from the top of a hundred-foot pole.” A Georgian proverb also says: “Friendship is like fine wine; the longer it ages, the more mellow it becomes.”
In addition, as Zhou Qian noted, China is ready to continue working with the Georgian side and deepen high-level relations.
Standing at a new starting point, we are willing to work together with the Georgian side to continue deepening high-level exchanges to consolidate political mutual trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation to complement each other, strengthening people-to-people exchanges to foster closer ties between our peoples and enhancing international cooperation to uphold fairness and justice.
I am confident that, through our joint efforts, the China-Georgia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to consolidate and develop, bringing greater benefits to the two peoples and making new and greater contributions to regional and global peace and development.
May the friendly cooperation between China and Georgia continue to reach new heights and achieve new successes. May both countries prosper and their people live in peace and joy,” he concluded.
