Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and Georgia on Establishing Strategic Partnership (Full Text) International | Cooperation | Strategic Partnership

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 31st

Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and Georgia on Establishing Strategic Partnership

July 31, 2023, Beijing

From July 26 to August 1, 2023, Georgian Prime Minister Galibashvili came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st Summer Universiade in Chengdu.Both sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, reached broad consensus, and unanimously decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.

Both sides agree that since the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 9, 1992, cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. Against the backdrop of the profound and complex evolution of the current international and regional situation, both sides have agreed to work together to expand cooperation in various fields such as politics, economy, culture, strengthen international affairs cooperation, continuously deepen bilateral relations, and jointly maintain regional and world peace, stability, and development.

1. political field

The two sides reaffirmed their respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries. The two sides firmly adhere to the one-China principle.

Both sides emphasize that developing bilateral relations between China and Georgia is crucial in the context of the existing international order and economic globalization. Both sides regard each other as important strategic partners and prioritize deepening bilateral relations in their respective foreign policies.

Georgia believes that Chinese path to modernization provides a new path and new choice for mankind to realize modernization. Both sides are willing to engage in exchanges of experience in governance and achieve common development and prosperity.

Both sides are willing to strengthen high-level political consultations on topics of common concern and enhance strategic mutual trust.

Both sides emphasize the need to strengthen exchanges between the central and local governments, political parties, and social organizations of the two countries, and promote exchanges and mutual learning in various fields.

Given the important role played by the cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries in deepening and developing bilateral relations, both sides emphasize the need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries in various fields and levels, and to enhance communication and consultation in relevant regions and international organizations.

2. economic field

The two sides welcome the steady growth of bilateral trade in recent years, and are willing to further promote the expansion of bilateral trade, optimize the trade structure, enrich product categories, and expand Georgian exports of goods and services to China.

Georgia welcomes China's initiative of jointly building the "the Belt and Road". The two sides also signed the "the Belt and Road Cooperation Plan" and other documents between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Georgia, gaining cooperation advantages and opportunities. The two sides will strengthen policy coordination and development planning docking within the framework of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, practice the principle of joint consultation, joint construction and sharing, promote the concept of openness, green and integrity, achieve the goal of "the Belt and Road" cooperation, and promote the sustainable development of both sides.

Both sides are willing to promote mutual investment and trade, strengthen cooperation in areas such as transportation, communication, modernization of infrastructure, construction and development of "intermediate corridors", digital technology, manufacturing, upgrading and expansion of railway networks, agriculture and food safety, water resources, environmental protection, desertification prevention and control, water resource desalination, and qualification assessment, and use Georgian transportation facilities to facilitate the smooth export of Chinese products to Western markets. Close exchanges in knowledge, technology, and human resource training are also needed.

The China Georgia Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 2018, playing an important role in promoting the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries. The two countries are willing to continue to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the agreement, support institutions and enterprises of both sides in conducting economic and commercial exchanges based on the principle of mutual benefit, and actively explore the possibility of further enriching the content of the agreement.

Both sides are willing to convene the next meeting of the China Georgia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, and strengthen information sharing on trade, investment, infrastructure, and other cooperation topics within the committee's framework, in order to improve the quality and efficiency of bilateral exchanges.

China welcomes Georgia to actively participate in the China International Import Expo. The Chinese side supports Georgian enterprises in promoting their products through Chinese e-commerce channels.

Both sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in the tourism field and promote the common development of the tourism industry. China welcomes Georgia to participate in the annual China International Tourism Fair and other tourism exhibitions.

The Chinese side attaches great importance to and supports the fourth Tbilisi Silk Road International Forum on "Connecting the Present and Creating a Resilient Future" to be held in Tbilisi from October 26 to 27, 2023.

The Georgian side regards China Central and Eastern European countries cooperation as a pragmatic, open, and beneficial cross regional cooperation platform, and hopes to participate as an observer in various activities within the framework of the cooperation mechanism. China welcomes this.

The Chinese side is willing to study providing preferential loans for the implementation of social and infrastructure projects by the Georgian side.

3. humanities field

In view of the need to deepen bilateral relations under the new situation, China and Ge are willing to actively carry out scientific and technological cooperation and update the scientific and technological cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 1993.

Considering the friendly relations between the two countries and the enormous potential for cultural and cultural cooperation, both sides agree to enhance the level of cultural cooperation between the two countries, encourage mutual visits between citizens of the two countries, deepen cooperation in tourism, health, youth, and sports, and strengthen exchanges in the fields of film, media, and public diplomacy.

Both sides will explore the possibility of holding a cultural year for each other, continue consultations on establishing cultural centers for each other, and provide necessary convenience.

Both sides will strengthen cooperation in the fields of science and higher education, enhance teacher-student exchanges, promote scientific cooperation and the transformation of new technologies, and implement joint projects.

Both sides support practical cooperation such as joint training programs between universities of the two countries, and encourage universities to fully utilize high-quality digital education resources and carry out cooperation through a combination of online and offline methods. Make good use of government scholarships and other channels to promote student exchange and joint training.

Both sides attach great importance to language exchange and cooperation, encourage both schools to carry out Chinese and Georgian language teaching, strengthen language teacher exchange and training, and support the construction of Confucius Institutes.

4. international field

The two sides will strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs, jointly adhere to true multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and promote the building of a new type of international relations.

Both sides support the promotion of the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all mankind, respect the independent choice of development paths suitable for their own national conditions by people of all countries, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Georgian side supports China's global development initiative and is willing to actively participate in initiative cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Georgian side supports China's global security initiative, and both sides are willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation within the framework of the initiative, jointly create a peaceful and stable international security environment, and promote and ensure the common development of countries in the region.

The Georgian side supports the global civilization initiative proposed by China. Both sides will actively cooperate and jointly implement this initiative.