Georgian PM: we highly appreciate that China has constantly engaged with Georgia as equal and respected partner - at a time when international relations are too often marked by double standards, this approach deserves particular recognition

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday attended an event marking the conclusion of the diplomatic mission of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

The Head of Government thanked the Ambassador of China to Georgia for his outstanding contribution to the development of relations between Georgia and China and wished him every success in his future endeavours.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Georgia and China, noting that it is already delivering tangible results for both countries.

“Your Excellency, as your diplomatic mission in Georgia comes to an end, it is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Government of Georgia and on my own, to express my sincere gratitude to you for your professionalism, dedication, friendship and unwavering commitment to strengthening the ties between our two countries.

As China marks the 99th Anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, this evening also provides an opportunity to acknowledge the important role of defense forces in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and stability. In today's rapidly changing world, peace and stability remain among our greatest shared values and professional armed forces make an essential contribution to maintaining a secure environment that enables nations to pursue sustainable development and prosperity.

Among the principles that unite our nations, peace and stability hold a special place. In this regard, China stands as an exemplary country, the global peaceful superpower, demonstrating a commitment to international cooperation and stability”, the PM said.

Kobakhidze further thanked the Chinese authorities for their unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

He stressed that the shared aspirations of the two countries have created a solid foundation for the further development of Georgia-China relations.

“Over the past several years our partnership reached new heights. Since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2023, our cooperation has continued to deepen 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.

This growing interest has been accompanied by improved air connectivity, which plays an important role in facilitating tourism exchanges. Today, three Chinese airlines operate regular flights to the Georgian market, creating new opportunities for tourism, business and investment. The recent launch of direct flights between Tbilisi and Shanghai has further strengthened connectivity, bringing our countries closer together and making travel more accessible. We look forward to expanding these links through connections with additional Chinese cities in the near future.

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 too 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 endeavors and hope that Georgia will always remain a place you remember with love”, Kobakhidze concluded.