Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (right) meets with Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili in Beijing on Monday. Photo: mofcom.gov.cn

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Georgia's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili in Beijing on Monday.

Wang emphasized that Georgia is an important partner in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China is willing to work with Georgia to promote the upgrading of the free trade agreement between the two countries, strengthen digital economy and investment cooperation, and develop logistics cooperation with Georgia, injecting new momentum into the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, Wang said.

Davitashvili emphasized that Georgia attaches great importance to trade ties with China and is willing to expand exports to China, strengthen regional connectivity, and create a good environment for Chinese companies to invest in the country.

In July, the two countries decided to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and signed documents on cooperation under the framework of the BRI.

The cooperation deal follows the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and sharing of benefits. It adheres to the concepts of openness, greenness, and integrity, and aims for high standards, sustainability, and improving people's livelihoods.

The plan clarifies that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in areas such as policy communication, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people exchanges.

China and Georgia have made solid progress in economic and trade cooperation in recent years, with the former being Georgia's largest export market and third-largest trading partner, Xinhua News Agency reported.

On January 1, 2018, the China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement came into effect. It is the first free trade agreement signed between China and a country in the Eurasian region.

Global Times