MP Nikoloz Samkharadze: Talks with Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress Vice-Chairperson focused on bilateral trade and economic initiatives

“Zhejiang is one of China’s wealthiest provinces, and Hangzhou is its innovation and technology capital, making it vital to explore trade and economic opportunities for Georgia,” MP Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, said during a parliamentary delegation visit to the region.

Samkharadze confirmed that the Georgian delegation met senior provincial leadership in Hangzhou and held talks with the Vice-Chairperson of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress.

“We discussed prospects for joint economic and trade projects between Georgia and Zhejiang province. Zhejiang is one of China’s richest provinces, and Hangzhou is its hub for innovation and technology, home to major firms, most notably Alibaba, alongside numerous innovative enterprises and one of China’s largest ports. It was valuable to hear first-hand what avenues exist for partner nations to engage in economic and trade cooperation with the province,” Samkharadze said.

Samkharadze added that the Georgian delegation proposed establishing a sister-city partnership between Hangzhou and a Georgian municipality.

“The proposal was met with considerable enthusiasm, and we hope Hangzhou will twin with a Georgian city in the near future. Elsewhere on our itinerary, we toured several innovative tech firms, including a major robotics manufacturer producing units for firefighting and policing, as well as an artificial intelligence hub housing startups developing AI-driven solutions, where we were shown their latest products,” he noted.

The delegation also visited a local municipal district in Hangzhou to examine urban governance and public service delivery.

“The local mayor briefed us on how municipal authorities engage with residents, their social programmes, and the modern technologies deployed across all age groups, from preschool children to working adults and pensioners. Overall, it was a highly engaging and productive day,” Samkharadze continued.

“This marks our first official visit to Zhejiang province. Given its economic weight, it is important that we assess the opportunities this region offers and build long-term cooperation,” he concluded.