PM Kobakhidze: Georgia deeply values China as equal, respected partner amid era of double standards

“Our shared aspirations have created a solid foundation for the further development of Georgia-China relations. Over the past several years, our partnership reached new heights,” declared the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, during his speech at a farewell reception marking the end of the Chinese Ambassador’s diplomatic mission.

As Irakli Kobakhidze noted, following the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2023, cooperation between Georgia and China has deepened further across political, economic, and people-to-people dimensions.

“This June, we elevated our cooperation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening new opportunities for enhanced political and economic engagement. This new chapter in our relations is also reflected in the strengthening of our economic partnership. In recent years, trade between our countries has developed steadily. China is Georgia’s third-largest trading partner and the second-largest destination for Georgian domestic exports. People-to-people ties have become one of the strongest pillars of our partnership. Visa-free travel has opened a new chapter in exchanges between our citizens and has contributed to the growing number of visitors in both directions. Today, three Chinese airlines operate regular flights to Georgia, creating new opportunities for tourism, business, and investment,” the Prime Minister stated.

He added that the launch of direct flights between Tbilisi and Shanghai has further enhanced connectivity, bringing the two nations closer and making travel far more accessible.

“These tangible achievements clearly demonstrated that our partnership is not merely a declaration on paper, but one that delivers mutually beneficial results. We highly appreciate that China has constantly engaged with Georgia as an equal and respected partner. At a time when international relations are often marked by double standards, this approach deserves particular recognition.

At its very core, diplomacy is about building trust between nations, opening channels of dialogue, finding common ground where interests meet and steadily building bridges that allow us to work together for the benefit of our people.

In this regard, I would like to express my special gratitude to Ambassador Zhou Qian, whose personal efforts and support have played a significant role in the essential advancement of Georgia-China relations. Your Excellency, your dedication has greatly contributed to bringing our two countries closer together, and your efforts will be remembered with great appreciation.

I wish you every success in your future endeavours and hope that Georgia will always remain a place you remember with love,” concluded Irakli Kobakhidze.