Georgia, Belarus discuss trade, tourism and closer parliamentary ties

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili held talks with a Belarusian parliamentary delegation in Tbilisi on Thursday, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy, agriculture, tourism and culture.

The delegation, representing the Georgia Friendship Group in Belarus’ House of Representatives, highlighted the “longstanding ties” between the two countries, the parliament press office said.

 The sides also discussed parliamentary diplomacy as a channel for developing bilateral relations and agreed on the need to strengthen contacts between friendship groups and parliamentary committees.

The Belarusian delegation noted that the Tbilisoba in Minsk Georgian cultural festival will take place in the Belarusian capital on October 3. The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, the press office added.

The Belarusian lawmakers will also take part in a conference in Tbilisi marking 1,700 years since Christianity was declared Georgia’s state religion.

Irakli Kadagishvili, head of the Georgian Parliament’s friendship group with Belarus, also attended the meeting.