The Government acted in line with the Constitution when adopting a joint statement on the Georgia-China strategic partnership establishment. Such a statement made the Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his speech at the plenary session of the Parliament, where he was heard in the interpolation format.

“The joint statement was adopted within the framework of authority granted by the Constitution of Georgia, and its legal obligation to make a prior agreement with the Parliament derived neither from the Constitution nor any other normative act.

The Constitution determines the forms of the Government’s accountability before the Parliament that comprises the obligation of prior agreements of similar statements.

It should be noted that four directions are defined in the joint statement: political, economic, inter-nation and cultural relations and international that fully comply with the foreign policy resolution approved by the Georgian Parliament in December 2020, which reads that the government would contribute to the intensification of relations with China.

The Georgia-China relations should be evaluated from a geopolitical point of view, Georgia gradually expanded its relationship with China in economic, trade and other directions in recent years.

As you know, Georgia and China are the participating countries of the ancient Silk Road and are connected by the centuries-old history of trade and economic cooperation. Since January 2018, the free trade agreement between Georgia and China has been in effect, which has significantly increased trade, especially Georgian exports to the Chinese market. As a result, China is one of the three largest trade partner countries of Georgia. Currently, only Georgia in the region has a free trade agreement with China, which, in turn, emphasizes Georgia"s outstanding role in the region for China.

Georgia is the only country in the region that has signed a free trade agreement simultaneously with the European Union (since 2014) and China (since 2018). Georgia has proven to be a reliable partner for both the EU and China. We are actively using the opportunity provided by these two agreements and increasing the volume of trade in both directions.

China is one of the most important players in today’s world, with which more than 60 countries have established strategic partnership relations and signed relevant agreements. Among them: “Comprehensive strategic partnership” - 40 countries of America and Europe; “Strategic partnership” - 20 countries of Europe, America, Asia, Pacific Ocean and Africa; Also, the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the African Union (AU). It should be noted that the current format of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries = China-CEEC) includes a number of EU countries, and therefore, Georgia’s participation in this format as an observer is important for sharing the experience of European countries and for Georgia as for further strengthening the function of the East-West connecting transit hub”, - said Ilia Darchiashvili.