Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao Meets with Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Kvirikashvili

On April 22, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met in Beijing with Kvirilvishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. The two sides exchanged in depth views on topics including strengthening trade, investment, and connectivity cooperation. Wang Wentao said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Georgia economic and trade cooperation has become increasingly close, trade scale continues to grow, and investment areas are continuously expanding. By upgrading the China-Georgia free trade agreement, both countries will create a more transparent and convenient business environment for enterprises, reflecting the two sides’ firm determination to uphold the multilateral trading system and promote trade liberalization and facilitation. China welcomes Georgia’s active participation in the China International Import Expo and trade promotion activities such as “Sharing a Big Market, Exporting to China,” to expand exports of advantageous products to China, innovate trade methods, promote balanced trade development, deepen investment cooperation, and enhance the level of connectivity.

Kvirilvishvili said that the Georgian government will place cooperation with China at the highest priority. The upgrade of the free trade agreement will add new momentum to the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. Georgia is willing to expand exports of agricultural products to China and strengthen cooperation in areas including oil and gas development, automobile manufacturing, port infrastructure construction, tourism, and more.

After the meeting, the two sides signed the “Protocol of the People’s Republic of China’s Government and the Government of Georgia on Amending the Protocol of the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Georgia.” This is a practical result of implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries on deepening the China-Georgia strategic partnership, and will provide more solid institutional guarantees for enterprises to participate in each other’s markets. Next, the China-Georgia sides will step up fulfillment of their respective domestic legal procedures to promote the upgraded protocol’s early entry into force. (Ministry of Commerce)