Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has begun his visit to China, where he is attending the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), a Shanghai-hosted annual trade exhibition, and has met senior Chinese officials, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng.
Kobakhidze landed in Shanghai on November 3, where he was welcomed at Hongqiao International Airport by the city’s Vice Mayor Xie Dong. He is attending the CIIE opening ceremony, where Georgia is featured as this year’s “Guest of Honor.” According to the Georgian Dream government administration’s press release, more than 40 Georgian companies will showcase their products at the event.
GD PM is accompanied by his cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, Environment and Agriculture Minister Davit Songhulashvili, Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili, Infrastructure Minister Revaz Sokhadze, National Bank’s President Natia Turnava, and head of the government administration, Levan Zhorzholiani.
Kobakhidze’s visit to China comes amid Georgian Dream’s deepening pivot toward Beijing and increasingly strained relations with traditional Western partners. The trip coincided with parallel developments in Brussels, where the European Commission released its 2025 Enlargement Report that noted “significantly” deteriorated situation and “serious democratic backsliding” regarding Georgia.
Kobakhidze Talks With Chinese Premier Li Qiang
Irakli Kobakhidze met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his visit to Shanghai on November 4.
“We had productive discussions on the solid progress of Georgia-China relations and the deepening of our strategic partnership,” Kobakhidze wrote on X following the meeting.
According to the Georgian Dream government’s administration, Kobakhidze emphasized during the meeting that relations between Georgia and China are developing steadily, grounded in the principles of “mutual respect, equality, and cooperation.”
He thanked China for its “strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and its “unwavering commitment to the non-recognition of Georgia’s occupied territories,” while emphasizing Georgia’s support for the “One China principle and China’s territorial integrity.”
Kobakhidze noted that between January and August 2025, the number of containers transported through Georgia via the Middle Corridor to and from China increased by 70.6% compared to the same period last year. He also said that Chinese investments in Georgia reached USD 7.43 million during the same period, which is a 229% increase year-on-year.
“China has historically been the central pillar of the Silk Road, which shaped trade and cultural relations for centuries,” Kobakhidze said, according to the government administration. “Georgia, as a significant part of the Middle Corridor, is ready to expand cooperation with China to further promote regional connectivity and trade.”
In turn, Chinese Premier Qiang reportedly thanked Kobakhidze for participating in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), noting that since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2023, bilateral relations have been developing intensively.
“Our desire is to strengthen strategic communication with Georgia, expand practical cooperation, and through joint efforts bring even more benefits to our peoples,” Qiang was quoted as saying by the GD government’s administration.
“China is grateful to Georgia for its sincere friendship,” Qiang noted, per the Georgian official press release.
Following the meeting, Kobakhidze and Li Qiang opened Georgia’s exhibition space at the Expo on November 5, which showcases the country’s history, culture, tourism, and investment potential, among others. This marks Georgia’s eighth participation in the event, according to the GD government’s administration.
Kobakhidze Addresses Participants of the China International Import Expo
Speaking at the Expo’s opening ceremony on November 5, Kobakhidze noted that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, which, as he said, covers 95% of Georgian exports, has been a “game changer” that “significantly boosted trade volumes.”
“In the first nine months of 2025 alone, bilateral trade reached 1.6 billion USD, marking an impressive 15% increase. Such growth reflects the strength of our bilateral economic relations and points to even greater potential for expansion in the years ahead,” Kobakhidze was quoted as saying by the GD government administration.
Kobakhidze emphasized that China’s efforts to open its vast market and expand access to key sectors create “important opportunities for Georgian businesses.” He reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness “to continue cooperation aimed at further increasing transport flows between China and Europe through the Middle Corridor.”
GD PM also highlighted Georgia’s efforts to promote its tourism potential in the Chinese market, noting a 45% increase in visits from China in the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period last year. He welcomed the “recent positive trend in Chinese investments, which showed significant growth in 2025,” and added that there remains “considerable potential for deeper cooperation, especially in key sectors such as energy, transport and logistics, and hospitality.”
Kobakhidze further pointed to Georgia’s “ambitious infrastructure projects,” including the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, the East-West Highway, the Black Sea Submarine Cable, the Tbilisi International Airport project, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, saying these initiatives are “transforming the country into a key trade and transport route between China and Europe, enhancing regional connectivity and supporting growing economic cooperation.”
“Georgia remains firmly committed to its partnership with China,” Kobakhidze said, according to the government administration. “We aim to further strengthen the business environment, attract more investment, and deepen cooperation across various sectors,” he added.
Kobakhidze Meets Shanghai’s Mayor
Following the Expo’s opening ceremony, Kobakhidze met with the Mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng, together with the Georgian Dream delegation and Chinese officials.
Kobakhidze praised Shanghai as “one of the best examples of China’s progress and modernization,” noting it is “truly impressive to see how China continues to develop across different sectors,” according to the Georgian press release.
He added that Georgia seeks to achieve “tangible and practical results” of its relations with China, emphasizing the importance of the Import Expo and noting the satisfaction that “Georgia and China enjoy intensive trade and economic relations.”
In turn, Mayor Gong Zheng was quoted by the Georgian press release as saying that the two countries have always maintained “mutual respect and trust,” adding that “our strategic partnership has reached a very positive stage of development.”
Gong also reportedly cited Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to the GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election, and reiterated that “China is ready to continue working with Georgia to further develop our traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as to promote the deepening of China-Georgia relations for the benefit of our peoples.”
“China has always attached great importance to its friendly relations with Georgia. A clear example of this is the twinning of Shanghai and Tbilisi, which will allow us to further advance mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation,” Gong was quoted in the Georgian press release.
Maka Botchorishvili Meets Chinese FM
Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on November 7.
According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the conversation touched upon “the importance of intensifying relations in the areas of economy, education, science, culture, and tourism,” and “special emphasis was placed on the significance of the Caucasus region and the opportunities to utilize the existing potential in terms of connectivity fully.”
“The conversation addressed the dynamics of trade and economic ties, the importance of a free trade agreement in this context, and prospects for future cooperation,” the press release reads.
During the meeting, the sides reiterated China’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and Georgia’s support for the “One China policy.”
Georgian Foreign Ministry noted that this marks the first official visit of a Georgian Foreign Minister to China in the past decade and the first bilateral meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers since 2019.
More to follow…
Last updated on November 7, 5:00 pm.
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