Georgian PM rejects criticism of China ties, points to EU member states’ partnerships

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday defended Georgia’s strategic partnership with China, arguing that similar agreements between European Union member states and Beijing demonstrate that such relations were not incompatible with European integration ambitions.

In his address at the Georgian Parliament, Kobakhidze cited multiple EU member states that have signed strategic partnership agreements with China, arguing that such cooperation was a normal element of modern international relations.

“Regarding our strategic partnership with China, let me list the European Union member states that have concluded strategic partnership agreements with China: Germany, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, and Greece. All of these countries have strategic partnership agreements with China. Could anyone seriously claim that their strategic partnerships with China contradict their European integration objectives? Such statements are laughable”, Kobakhidze said.

He further stated that Georgia values its strategic relationship with China, portraying Beijing as a significant global partner that engages with countries on an equal footing regardless of their size or economic power.

“We attach special importance to our relations with China. China is a highly dignified partner, and despite the enormous differences between China and Georgia in terms of territory, population, and economic size - China has a $20 trillion economy, while ours amounts to $38 billion - it treats every country, including Georgia, as an equal. This reflects the exceptional dignity of the Chinese state. I only wish that every country would treat states like ours with the same respect and equality. That would be my hope and my appeal”, noted.

In addition, the Prime Minister characterised China as a “peaceful superpower”, arguing that its historical record of avoiding direct military conflicts over recent decades distinguishes it from other major global powers.

“Whenever China is discussed in a negative context, including from the perspective of values, we often hear such messages. However, judging by the experience of the past half-century, China is the world's only peaceful superpower. It is the only major power that has not fought a single war since 1979. Based on the record of the past fifty years, China can be described as the only peaceful superpower in the world. This is a very important value-based issue, and it is one of the reasons that naturally brings us closer to the People's Republic of China”, Kobakhidze concluded.