During the session of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, was invited to provide clarifications. In accordance with Article 40 of the Parliament's Rules of Procedure, he addressed questions from the parliamentary political group "Eurooptimists" concerning his attendance at the "Belt and Road Initiative" forum in China, which was also attended by the President of the Russian Federation.

"If someone is attempting to suggest that the government is in any way jeopardizing Georgia's interests or engaging in secretive negotiations, as was wrongly disseminated, I can unequivocally state that this is not the case. Over the past decade, the Georgian government has not conceded anything to Russia. To speak candidly about the occupation, I affirm that yes, Russia is the occupier, Russia is the adversary, Russia is at fault, and we are not willing to make any concessions to Russia that would harm Georgia's interests”, - Levan Davitashvili stated.

He emphasized the significance of the "One Road, One Belt" forum held in China. He noted that the forum had representatives from 150 countries, including ten EU member states. Levan Davitashvili stated that the Georgian delegation's participation in the forum was a sign of respect for the Chinese government, as it was a personal invitation from the President of China. He stressed that declining this invitation would have been an irresponsible approach given the evolving dynamics in the relationship between the two countries.

"We are committed to a consistent foreign policy, and our strategic direction is integration with the European Union. Society recognizes that our policy has been successful in this regard. Georgia is respected as a reliable ally in economic cooperation with the European Union. We are not seeking to be mere beneficiaries of the EU; we aim to contribute to the EU's success. This approach is appreciated by our partners. When the question arose about whether our participation in this initiative would harm Georgia's EU membership, I believe that the EU leadership, both the Commission and the Council, addressed this concern with the decision we received on December 14. Therefore, I consider speculations on this matter to be unfounded", - the Minister stated.

As David Songhulashvili stated at the meeting, Georgia's participation in the forum held in China was important.

"We have a strategic partnership with China, and thus, Georgia's participation in this event was crucial. The Middle Corridor, which passes through Georgia, plays a significant role in our country. Facilitating trade through this corridor is essential as shipping is a key driver of our economy. Therefore, it was necessary for our delegation to attend the forum”, - David Songhulashvili noted.