President Kavelashvili: World leaders at climate summit praised Georgia’s remarkable development and success

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has summed up his bilateral meetings with international leaders on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Türkiye, noting that foreign partners highlighted Georgia’s remarkable development, success, and international positioning.

“At the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, we had the opportunity to meet and hold discussions with leaders from various nations. I met with the President of Uzbekistan, who visited Georgia not long ago and spoke very warmly of that trip. Since the bilateral agreements were signed, intensive processes have been unfolding between Georgia and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is developing rapidly across all sectors and is an important partner for us.

I also had the chance to meet once again with the Vice-President of China, following his recent visit to Georgia. He likewise praised the visit, thanked us for our hospitality, and noted that he would brief President Xi on his impressions. We expressed our desire to see relations with China grow even closer and more intensive. I congratulated the President of Brazil on his election, and we held very candid meetings with our neighbours. When it comes to regional peace and development, we share a strong commitment to ending conflicts.

I spoke with the Prime Minister of friendly Armenia on a range of issues where our views align, and our roles are virtually identical, namely, that the South Caucasus must become the most attractive region. Across the board, various countries took note of Georgia’s remarkable development, success, and the positioning we have achieved,” Kavelashvili said.

The President also drew a parallel between the summit’s official motto and Tbilisi’s call for political dialogue.

“Yesterday’s conference carried the slogan ‘Let’s Start Talking’, something our country has been calling for in the political arena for quite some time. While the focus here was climate change, the principle is no different. When a problem arises, and you turn your back on it, it only escalates. The same attitude applies to climate change, where neglect has led to deeply alarming consequences. ‘Let’s start talking’ can be applied to every sphere. We can state with confidence that the Georgian state and our government have consistently expressed readiness for this, not only politically, but in every direction,” Kavelashvili continued.

“No country can ever develop in isolation. Our engagement in the region with our neighbours, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Central Asian states, is noteworthy. Economics matters, of course, but we also see eye to eye on mutual respect, mutual trust, and shared values. We genuinely have much to talk about; we are a nation rooted in an ancient civilisation, a point China’s Vice-President himself underscored. Despite the disparity in size and population, the Chinese side opening our dialogue on that note signals deep respect for Georgia. We are two nations of ancient civilisations that honour our language, faith, values, and traditions. They speak to us as an equal and reliable partner, which is most welcome. We reciprocate that approach and wish to see the same attitude from other nations as well.

Wherever we have experienced misunderstandings on this front, those misunderstandings remain. I think the public understands whom I am referring to: the countries of the European Union. They were present here too, and their nihilistic, aloof attitude is reflected in their policies. Meanwhile, the countries with which we share common values are visibly rallying around us—and as the public will agree, these are by no means weak nations,” Kavelashvili stated.