Kobakhidze noted that during the past six months alone, visits to China were made by Georgia's prime minister, parliament speaker and five cabinet ministers, with each trip focused on advancing specific areas of cooperation
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Front News Georgia
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said exports of Georgian-produced goods to China tripled during the first four months of 2026, highlighting the “growing importance” of economic ties between the two countries.
Speaking at a government briefing on Wednesday, Kobakhidze said the increase in exports reflected the rapid expansion of trade and investment cooperation since Georgia and China signed a strategic partnership agreement three years ago.
He claimed bilateral relations have developed at a particularly fast pace in recent years, with multiple high-level visits and a series of new agreements aimed at deepening economic cooperation.
Kobakhidze noted that during the past six months alone, visits to China were made by Georgia's prime minister, parliament speaker and five cabinet ministers, with each trip focused on advancing specific areas of cooperation.
He said that since 2023, Georgia and China have signed 14 bilateral agreements, while six additional agreements are currently undergoing final review.
The prime minister also pointed to broader growth in trade between the two countries. According to government figures, bilateral trade increased by 17% in 2024, by 21% in 2025 and by 45% during the January-April period of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Kobakhidze said China now ranks as Georgia's third-largest trading partner overall and the second-largest destination for exports of Georgian-made products.
He highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening economic connectivity, including the expansion of the Georgia-China free trade agreement, growing air links between the two countries and cooperation on transport corridors connecting China with Europe through the South Caucasus.
The prime minister also referred to a memorandum signed in 2024 on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route as part of the China-Europe Railway Express network, saying it had contributed to record volumes of container traffic moving through the Middle Corridor.
Kobakhidze argued that closer economic relations with China are making a direct contribution to Georgia's economic growth, export expansion and the development of domestic production.
His remarks came a day after Georgia and China signed an agreement upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
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