MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

9^th session of the Georgia-China Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in Tbilisi. Chaired by the First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, and the Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Lin Ji, the session addressed crucial issues in the trade and economic relations between the two countries.  

According to the agenda of the Commission session, the parties discussed the prospects for deepening the Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China, as well as cooperation in investment relations, transport, logistics, energy, information technology and innovation, tourism, agriculture, and other sectors, along with the prospects for their further enhancement. Commission members also discussed issues related to direct flights between the two countries. Another topic of discussion was the importance of the Middle Corridor and Georgia’s role in its development.   

“The Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China has significantly strengthened bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Georgia became the first country in the region to establish a free trade regime with China, thereby highlighting Georgia’s strategic importance as a trading partner and transit hub,” – the First Vice Prime Minister noted in his address.   

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development provided the members of the Chinese delegation with information on Georgia’s key economic indicators and investment environment, as well as the progress of major transport infrastructure projects. He emphasised that the existence of a visa-free regime promotes the further development of the partnership between Georgia and China, the strengthening of business ties, and economic cooperation. According to Levan Davitashvili, based on 2024 data, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 17% compared to the previous year, amounting to 1.92 billion USD. In terms of trade turnover, China ranked 4th among Georgia’s largest trading partners.

“The recent period has been full of significant economic challenges, but as a result of well-thought-out economic policies and ongoing reforms, the country has successfully overcome external shocks and maintained macroeconomic stability. In the post-pandemic period, Georgia is one of the most successful countries in the region and in Europe in terms of economic growth; last year, the average economic growth rate was 9.7%. Record figures were detailed in terms of merchandise exports and revenues from international tourism – in 2024, exports increased by 7.8% and amounted to 6.6 billion US dollars, while revenue from tourism increased by 7.3% and reached a historical maximum of 4.4 billion USD,” – Levan Davitashvili noted.

The session was attended by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Khvtisiashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Health, Irakli Sasania, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Lasha Dolidze, and other representatives of government agencies, as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the People’s Republic of China, Paata Kalandadze, and the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Giorgi Pertaia.

Following the session, Levan Davitashvili and Lin Ji signed the minutes of the 9th session of the Georgia-China Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Within the framework of the Commission, an authorisation for the placement of Georgian honey on the Chinese market was also signed. Furthermore, negotiations on the protocol for placing poultry meat on the Chinese market will be completed in the coming months. This will be an additional opportunity for Georgia to export products with high demand to the Chinese market for the first time.

Levan Davitashvili invited the head of the Chinese delegation to the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, which will be held on 22-23 October, this year.