The FINANCIAL — First Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Georgia, JI Yanchi talked about the trade end economic relations between China and Georgia and discussed certain sectors of bilateral cooperation as well.
Indicators of the economic cooperation of the two countries in 2017 were also covered during the meeting and the priority issues of the current year were highlighted as well. The parties stressed on the positive trend regarding the foreign trade between Georgia and China. In 2017, in particular, the trade turnover with China was increased by 24% while the export was expanded by 23% and exceeded 200 million USD. It was also noted that, according to the data of the 11 months, the export of Georgian wine to China exceeded 7.6 million bottles in 2017. It was specially emphasized that the Free Trade Agreement between the countries, which entered into force since 2018, will significantly contribute to this process.
Special attention was paid to Georgia’s participation in the Import Exhibition which is scheduled on 5-10 November, in Shanghai, China. Georgia is invited as an honorary guest to the event where Georgian businessmen will be able to offer their products and services to potential partners. Among the priority areas, the sides also named tourism, where the cooperation is characterized with a growing dynamic.
Conversation also covered the cooperation of the two countries within the framework of the One Belt, One Road initiative. Chinese Ambassador JI Yanchi gave the highest evaluation of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, which was held last autumn, according to Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
Importance of the Chinese companies’ participation in the process of construction of Free Industrial Zone along with the Anaklia Deep Water Port was also underlined during the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the sides expressed their hopes that the cooperation between the countries will be further developed, which will be positively reflected on the trade, economic and other aspects of the bilateral relations.
