Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says that "Specific forces" are conducting an anti-Chinese campaign in the country, the purpose of which is to "damage our state interests." When speaking to the media, Kobakhidze emphasized that China is a strategic partner of Georgia.
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"This partnership is of great importance for realizing our state interests and deepening cooperation between Georgia and China in various directions, including the development of economic partnership.
When specific forces with questionable financing are conducting an anti-Chinese campaign under such conditions, of course, this is also worrying. Therefore, it is very important that everyone takes a proper stance on all actions that are directed against the interests of the state. Any such anti-state action is very disturbing," Kobakhidze told journalists.
The prime minister also answered a question about the strategic partnership with the United States of America and stated that the Georgian government wants "the partnership to yield concrete, tangible results":
"We have discussed many times what these results can be: deepening trade relations, for which a free trade agreement would be crucial; visa-free travel, allowing for unrestricted movement; and direct flights. Progress in these areas would be a tangible example of how the partnership can benefit our citizens. I hope that we will make progress in this direction."
Last year, Georgia and China signed an agreement on a strategic partnership, after which Georgia established visa-free travel for Chinese citizens. In January, in Beijing, Irakli Kobakhidze met with representatives of the Chinese Communist Party and emphasized the importance of deepening the political aspect of China-Georgia relations. China introduced a visa-free regime for Georgian citizens at the end of February.
