A meeting of business community representatives from Georgia and China, organized by the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, took place in Tbilisi on Sunday, November 8. It was attended by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili. According to the government administration, the reception focused primarily on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the dynamics of their trade and economic ties.
The event was opened by Giorgi Pertaya, President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), also addressed the gathering.
The Vice President of the PRC stated that Beijing is prepared to ramp up purchases of high-quality Georgian products and will extend full support to leading Chinese enterprises investing in Georgia and expanding their presence on the local market.
According to him, the decision to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership—announced in June by Xi Jinping and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili—has opened up new horizons. Han Zheng noted that Georgian agricultural produce is increasingly gaining ground in the Chinese market, while Chinese goods, particularly new energy vehicles, are in strong demand in Georgia. He pointed out that the bilateral free trade agreement has played a key role, with the parties signing a protocol to upgrade the deal in April, taking cooperation to a new level.
For his part, Irakli Kobakhidze stated that Georgia will continue fostering favorable conditions for Chinese businesses and will do everything in its power to deepen the trade and economic partnership. He noted that bilateral trade turnover and Chinese investments are expanding at a rapid pace. The Prime Minister recalled that the two nations signed a strategic partnership agreement several years ago, followed recently by a comprehensive one, stressing that Tbilisi has no intention of stopping at what has already been achieved.
Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili addressed the development of the Middle Corridor, calling it one of the most critical avenues of cooperation as a dependable transit route between China and Europe. She emphasized that the Anaklia deep-sea port will play a vital role by serving as the corridor’s maritime gateway on the Black Sea.
The Vice Prime Minister also reported on advances in air connectivity. In July, a Shanghai–Tbilisi route was launched alongside the existing Urumqi–Tbilisi service. Under an agreement with China Eastern Airlines, the frequency of these flights will increase from three to five times per week starting in 2027. The sides are also exploring direct air routes from Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
According to the minister, trade turnover with China reached $2.3 billion in January–September 2026 (a 41% increase), solidifying China’s position as Georgia’s second-largest trading partner. Since 2002, cumulative Chinese investment in the country has exceeded $1 billion, and in the first half of 2026, China emerged as Georgia’s top foreign investor with $236 million.
Data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) shows that in January–September 2026, bilateral trade turnover stood at $2.329 billion, with the PRC accounting for 11.3% of Georgia’s total foreign trade. Georgian exports to China surged by 168.7%—from $216.967 million to $583.085 million. Imports from China increased by 21.8%, rising from $1.434 billion to $1.746 billion.
Top 5 imported goods from China:
- semiconductor devices — $135.097 million (18,121 tons);
- passenger cars — $71.103 million (7,443 units);
- electric generating sets and rotary converters — $57.344 million (11,186 tons);
- air conditioning machines and units — $45.276 million (6,298 tons);
- flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, width of 600 mm or more — $43.684 million (58,812 tons).
Top 5 exported goods to China:
- precious metal ores and concentrates — $347.718 million (75,181 tons);
- petroleum and petroleum products — $103.315 million (139,792 tons);
- copper ores and concentrates — $84.351 million (27,628 tons);
- spices (ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, bay leaves, curry, etc.) — $13.008 million (3,130 tons);
- medical and veterinary instruments and appliances — $9.185 million (36 tons).