During a meeting between Chinese Ambassador Zhou Qian and Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on November 13, Garibashvili charged Zourabichvili with violating the Georgian Constitution "By harming the state interests, pursuing individual activities and making personal assessments of international affairs that are not aligned with the government position, as a result of which the international image of the country suffers." 

Garibashvili emphasized that the president of Georgia does not have the authority to decide on the nation's foreign policy because the country is a parliamentary republic. He emphasized that the government alone has the authority to implement the nation's foreign policy, and he said that the president's remarks do not even formally express the attitude of the Georgian authorities towards the state and leader of China. Ultimately, Garibashvili voiced his optimism that Zourabichvili's remarks would not negatively impact or harm the two nations' relationship.

On November 14, Natia Sulava, the Head of the President's Administration, met with Zhou Qian, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Georgia. Sulava stated during the meeting in the Orbeliani Palace that President Zourabichvili made no mention of Sino-Georgian ties, or more particularly, of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his interview with the French media outlet. "Rather, the whole conversation focused on Georgia, Russia, and EU-Georgian ties."

Notably, on November 10, President Zourabichvili gave an interview to the French media LCI. In the interview, the journalist asked: "Do you hope that Putin and his followers will one day be put on trial? It seems a long way off, [because] Xi Jinping – for the genocide of the Uyghurs, [and] Vladimir Putin for the accusations of not only war crimes but also of crimes against humanity. Is it your personal wish they be tried? Of course, we are talking about Putin first of all because this is what concerns you." President Zourabichvili responded: "I believe with my inner faith that it would be a historical outcome that would put some things back in their place, and I do not see that perspective as realistic." The president did not mention the Chinese president throughout the interview.