“The first official visit to China by a Speaker of the Georgian Parliament in the past 20 years has taken place, underscoring both the historic significance of the visit and the historically high level of relations between the two countries,” said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, speaking to Georgian journalists in China.

According to him, a strategic partnership, visa-free travel, and a free trade agreement have existed between China and Georgia for several years now, all of which ultimately make themselves felt in the lives of the population and in the relations between the two countries.

“Trade, tourism, and direct flights between us have all increased, which enables our country to achieve better results in terms of people-to-people relations and the development of tourism as well. During this visit, I had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart, the Speaker of Parliament. I also held meetings with circles that carry significant influence over political decision-making. We likewise discussed the challenges facing the world today, including violations of the principles of international security and international law.

It is clear that the Chinese authorities and we share an absolutely identical outlook: every country must return to a respect for international law, and the principle of peaceful coexistence must remain paramount. As part of this visit, we are also in Shaanxi Province today. This province, with a population of up to 40 million, is one of the leading regions in the application of high technologies in agriculture. It was of considerable interest to us to discuss this region’s experience with the Chairman of the local parliament. Xi’an, the provincial capital, is also historically the starting point of the Silk Road. The visit is significant in this regard as well, since Georgia, as a connecting link between China and Europe and one of the key nodes on the Silk Road, has a vested interest in maintaining very close relations with our colleagues in China,” Papuashvili declared.