“This is the first time in the past 20 years that a delegation led by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament has visited China. This clearly demonstrates the great importance we attach to the relations between our two countries, which were elevated to a strategic partnership two years ago,” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated during his meeting in China with Zhao Yide, the Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Congress.
As Papuashvili noted, Georgia attaches particular importance to cooperation and strategic partnership with China.
“Today, a visa-free regime and a free trade agreement are in effect between our two countries, and these have already yielded tangible economic results. Approximately 95 per cent of traded goods are exempt from duties and fall within the scope of the free trade agreement. The visa-free regime has also led to an increase in the number of tourists travelling between Georgia and China, both from Georgia to China and from China to Georgia. This boost in tourism ultimately fosters closer people-to-people relations and promotes cultural exchange.
As you noted, Shaanxi and Xi’an are the starting point of the Silk Road, and this holds particular significance for Georgia as well. Historically, Georgia was part of the Silk Road, and today it forms part of the Trans-Caspian route, the so-called Middle Corridor. This route has played a significant role in both our economic and cultural development.
Georgia has benefited from the Silk Road both economically and culturally. It is precisely for this reason that we attach such particular importance to cooperation between our countries, to our strategic partnership, and to elevating that partnership to an ever higher level.
From an economic development perspective, China serves as one of the most inspiring examples for Georgia. Over the past five years, Georgia’s economy has grown at an average rate of around 9 per cent. This robust growth has enabled the economy to nearly triple in size over the past decade. Unemployment, which stood at 30 per cent ten years ago, has fallen to 9 per cent this year, and our goal is to bring it down to 3–4 per cent by 2028. Over the same period, GDP per capita has risen from approximately 4,500–5,000 dollars in 2020 to over 10,000 dollars this year. This shows that we are following a path of rapid development, drawing on the example set by China,” Papuashvili declared.
According to Papuashvili, Georgia offers its partners the fastest and most cost-effective route for connecting China and Europe.
“Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia experienced the collapse of both its economy and its social system. Therefore, it was essential to achieve a high rate of development to elevate the country to a level supporting meaningful future growth. Today’s economic indicators suggest that we will be able to maintain this pace of growth over the next five years.
According to forecasts by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Georgia will be one of the fastest-growing countries over the coming five years. Of course, the scale of our economy cannot be compared to that of large countries. Georgia has a total population of approximately 3.9 million, and in terms of population, we cannot even approach the size of just one of your regions.
However, there are fields in which we have much to offer the world. One of these is wine production, Georgia’s traditional and historic industry. As is well known, Georgia is considered the cradle of wine. The country boasts a continuous 8,000-year tradition of winemaking, a fact that has been scientifically validated. Furthermore, this year, the scientific evidence has been comprehensively presented, and international conferences have been held to confirm that wheat cultivation in Georgia began around 8,000 years ago. Wine and bread are the most fundamental foundations of cultural development, and it is precisely this culture that we share with the world.
Next year, Georgia and China will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Our relations, particularly over the last five years, clearly demonstrate how important bilateral cooperation and mutual exchange truly are.
As part of the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian route, Georgia offers its partners the fastest and most cost-effective means of connecting China and Europe. Today, with the war between Ukraine and Russia ongoing to Georgia’s north, and conflicts in the Middle East to our south, the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian route provide a safe and efficient transit link. You mentioned the Georgian students studying in Xi’an. This is precisely the area in which we have a particular interest in cooperating with China and in sharing experience,” Papuashvili noted.
According to the Parliament Speaker, relations between Georgia and China also play a significant role within the wider context of global processes and international affairs.
“At present, a reform of the education system is underway in Georgia, encompassing schools and universities alike, as well as curricula, study programmes, and infrastructure. Next week, Georgia’s Minister of Education will visit China and meet with Chinese counterparts. I wish to note here as well that we have a strong desire to cooperate and exchange experience in the field of education. The Parliament fully supports collaboration between universities, ministries, parliamentary committees, and members of parliament at the central and regional levels, to benefit from your expertise.
China’s education system is considered one of the most advanced and high-quality in the world. A great many Georgian students are already studying in China, including with the support of Chinese scholarships, for which we express our particular and sincere gratitude. In closing, the relations between our countries also constitute an important part of global processes and international affairs,” the Parliament Speaker concluded.
