Georgian ruling party delegation visits China to ‘deepen strategic ties’

A senior parliamentary delegation from Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party is visiting the People’s Republic of China for a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding multi-sectoral cooperation.

The Parliament’s press service said on Friday the delegation had met with key Chinese institutions, including the ruling Communist Party, the National People’s Congress, the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language and Education Cooperation, the China Chamber of Commerce (CCTIP), the Shenzhen municipal government, and leading Chinese technology companies.

The visit comes as Georgia seeks to bolster its role as a vital node in the Middle Corridor, a transcontinental transport route linking Europe and Asia. Parliamentary officials emphasized the increasing geopolitical significance of the corridor, especially in the wake of global disruptions to northern trade routes.

"Georgia is considered a state of geostrategic importance, representing the main network node of the transcontinental transport 'middle corridor' between Europe and Asia," the Parliament said."The functional importance of transit infrastructure has increased significantly since 2022, as reflected in a 30 percent increase in cargo turnover."

Vice-Speaker of Parliament Gia Volski, who is leading the delegation, described the Middle Corridor as “critical” to global trade connectivity.

“The importance of the Middle Corridor has been talked about for a long time, but today this topic is extremely important for everyone – both for the East and the West,” Volski said. “Connecting these two markets will not be possible without the Middle Corridor. Georgia’s geopolitical location meets the standards required for the development of the historical Silk Road.”

The visit also focuses on enhancing cooperation in education, agriculture, and trade. Georgian lawmakers highlighted that growing ties with China aligned with Georgia’s economic interests and its ambitions to serve as a bridge between Eastern and Western markets. Officials cited access to a market of 2.3 billion consumers through free trade agreements as a key opportunity.

The delegation includes several high-ranking members of Parliament: Vice-Speaker Giorgi Volski, Foreign Relations Committee Chair Nikoloz Samkharadze, Education Committee Chair Mariam Lashkhi, Economic Policy Committee Chair Shota Berekashvili, and Agrarian Issues Committee Chair Gela Samkharauli.