On July 27, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s visit to the People’s Republic of China started, the Press Office of the Georgian government reported.

Meeting with Xi Jinping

On July 28, Irakli Garibashvili met Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China.

Irakli Garibashvili noted that Georgia highly values the long-standing friendship and cooperation with China. The prime minister thanked the host president for the global initiative branded as a Belt and Road.

The Georgian leader noted, "I want to highlight that Georgia also firmly supports the One China Principle. We have repeatedly underlined this position on many occasions and will do so in the future. Let me state again that Georgia is committed to deepening trade and economic relations with China in various fields, and we are excited that a series of significant documents will be signed during this visit."

Xi Jinping, in turn, stated, "Political trust between our two countries is solid, while cooperation in various directions – distinguished. Georgia is a friend and good partner to Georgia. No matter the developments in the international arena, the attitude of China towards developing its relations with Georgia will not change. A Joint Statement will be published during your current visit to China. It will be declared that Georgia and China are establishing a strategic partnership, thus advancing our bilateral relations to a completely new level."

Visit to Huawei’s Executive Briefing Center

On July 30, Irakli Garibashvili, accompanied by his delegation, visited Huawei’s Executive Briefing Center in Beijing during his ongoing visit to China. The Head of Government of Georgia met Liang Hua, the Chairman of the Board of Huawei. The prime minister toured the company's exhibition hall, which displays cutting-edge digital technologies such as 5G, AI, and cloud, and tried out real-world applications of new technologies.

During their meeting, Garibashvili and Liang discussed how Georgia and Huawei could collaborate in ICT, industrial digital transformation, network coverage in remote areas, green energy, talent cultivation, and more.

Liang also expressed Huawei’s interest in leveraging its ICT expertise to support Georgia’s recently unveiled "Long-Term National Strategy for the Development of Digital Economy and Information Society and its Implementation Plan." He said the company would like to contribute to Georgia's ambitions to build regional digital, transportation, logistics, and clean energy hubs that link Asia and Europe.

Meeting with the Premier of the State Council of China

On July 31, developing strategic partnerships and cooperation in the directions of trade and economy were the key topics discussed at a meeting between Garibashvili and Li Qiang, the Premier of the State Council of China.

Irakli Garibashvili pointed out, "China is Georgia’s reliable trade partner, third-largest trade partner, also first in terms of export and third in terms of import among Georgia’s largest trade partners. The parties discussed the results achieved since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement with China, which amounted to 2 billion USD in 2022."

Georgia’s transit potential and the importance of developing the Middle Corridor-which has acquired further significance against the backdrop of global challenges-were also discussed at the meeting. Via the Trans-Caspian South Caucasus international transport route, Georgia offers a path connecting China to Europe in the shortest time possible. The conversation touched on cooperation toward the development of the digital economy, including in the direction of the development of 5G technologies and the creation of data centers, the digital corridor, and the establishment of a regional digital hub in Georgia.

After the meeting, the Plan for Bilateral Cooperation between the governments of Georgia and China under the Belt and Road Initiative was signed, and so was the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Ministry of Commerce of China on Investment Cooperation in Digital Economy. 

The Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of China on Joint Chinese Language Education in the Schools of General Education of Georgia. The Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the State Audit Office of Georgia and the National Audit Office of China, as well as the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property between the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia and the National Intellectual Property Administration of China.

Joint Statement on Establishing Strategic Partnership

On the same day, the two sides released a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership.

The information said: "The two sides highlighted that given the current international order and economic globalization, the bilateral ties between China and Georgia have gained considerable importance. Both sides regard each other as an important strategic partner and thus regard the deepening of bilateral relations as a priority of their respective foreign policies."

"Georgia welcomes the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China. The two sides have signed documents, including the Bilateral Cooperation Plan between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Georgia under the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, to gain greater strengths and opportunities for cooperation. The two sides will strengthen policy coordination and synergy of development planning under the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, uphold the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, and promote open, green, and clean cooperation to realize goals of Belt and Road cooperation and promote sustainable development of both sides," the information stated.

Moreover, the report added, "Both sides expressed readiness to facilitate mutual investment and trade and promote cooperation in the areas of transportation, communications, infrastructure modernization, development and strengthening of the Middle Corridor, digital technologies, manufacturing, upgrading and expansion of railway networks, agriculture, and food safety, water resources, environment protection, fighting desertification, water desalination, conformity assessment, usage of Georgia’s transit infrastructure for smooth export of Chinese products to Western markets, the exchange of know-how and technology as well as human resource training."

The statement noted: "Given their friendly relations and the huge potential of cooperation in the people-to-people and cultural fields, the two sides agreed to enhance their cultural cooperation. They will encourage citizens to visit each other’s countries and strengthen cooperation in tourism, health, youth, and sports. In addition, they will also enhance their exchanges in the areas of film, press, and public diplomacy."

"The two sides will strengthen coordination and collaboration in regional and international affairs, jointly uphold true multilateralism, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and promote the establishment of a new type of international relations. Georgia supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by China and is ready to actively participate in cooperation under the Initiative to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Georgia supports the Global Security Initiative proposed by China. The two sides would like to strengthen exchanges and cooperation under the Initiative’s framework, make a joint effort for a peaceful and stable international security environment, and promote and protect common development of countries in the region," the information concluded.