The Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili reported to the Parliament within the Interpellation, summoned by MPs Teona Akubardia, Khatuna Samnidze, Tariel Nakaidze, Tamar Kordzaia, Ana Buchukuri, Alexander Motserelia, Beka Liluashvili, Mikheil Daushvili and Shalva Kereselidze.

“Mr. Minister, today we summoned you to speak about the foreign policy. I, as an average Member of Parliament, so many of our strategic partners, found the conclusion of a strategic partnership agreement with China unexpected. Now, it is crucial to determine the foreign policy priorities, especially against the background, when the Parliamentary Resolution on Foreign Policy for 2020 provides zero records on the strategic partnership with China”, - one of the authors of the Interpellation, T. Akubardia addressed the Minister.

The Minister answered the questions of 9 opposition MPs related to the agreement with China.

“After my last report to the Parliament, the geopolitical context that the international community, including Georgia encounters today, has been even further aggravated and complicated. And Georgia has to address this complicated milieu while realizing all the foreign political objectives and tasks that have been outlined. The Georgia-China relations shall be envisioned within a uniform angle of the current geopolitical situation”, - he stated and elucidated the reasons, why the aforementioned agreement has not been communicated with the Parliament.

According to him, after establishing the strategic partnership with China, a joint statement has been made within the powers guaranteed under the Constitution and the legal commitment to acquire the preliminary approval of the Parliament derives neither from the Constitution nor from any other normative acts. The joint statement provides directions that are in full compliance with the Parliamentary Resolution on Foreign Policy for 2020, which stipulates that the Georgian Government facilitates the enhancement of the foreign, economic, trade and people-to-people bonds with China.

“The joint statement made after the visit of the Prime Minister to China is of a declarative nature and expresses the will of the parties to enhance the partnership relations. The document provides information on cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, regional and global peace, stability and development. And we presume that the goals declared by the parties do not imply the modification of a foreign political course of Georgia but are in full compliance with our development strategy”.

As the Minister added, Georgia proved to be a reliable partner for the EU and China. China is one of the key actors of the world, the strategic and partnership relations with which has been established by over 60 countries.

“Enhancement of our relations with China, first of all, serves for further realization of a function of Georgia as a transit hub between East and West. At that, it does not contradict the foreign political priorities prescribed under the Constitution regarding the European and Euro-Atlantic integration”.

Per the reporter, the Development Strategy of Georgia for 2030 underlines the paramount nature of the enhancement of the partnership relations with Asia and Oceania countries. Numerous EU states are engaged in the China-Eastern European cooperation format and hence, the participation of Georgia with the observer status is essential for sharing the European experience and enhancement of the transit hub function of Georgia.

“Being within a uniform format of the Central and Eastern European cooperation is imperative to the extent that Georgia enjoys an opportunity to once again identify itself and its place in the European space, to confirm the fact that in political and geographic terms, Georgia is an integral part of Europe. 14+1 format can be considered as an additional EU approximation instrument, especially against the background of the statement made concerning our EU candidate status”, - he stated noting that Georgia and China respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other.

“Under the strategic partnership declared between the two countries, the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other becomes even more solid, which has a positive impact on the positions of other countries concerning the occupied territories and the non-recognition policy of Georgia. The Government of China has never doubted the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia”, - the Minister stated.

According to him, China is aware that de-occupation and peaceful, political methods are set as one of the key priorities of our country.

“Our primary task is to ensure the security, stable development and economic empowerment of our country. In this view, we uphold the programmatic and result-oriented policy resorting to all available opportunities and means. Let me underline that the strategic partnership with China does not contradict and cannot impede the foreign political priorities of Georgia and the historical choice of the Georgian people”, - he noted.