Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tbilisi, Georgia, May 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
TBILISI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said Friday that her country is ready to strengthen comprehensive cooperation with China in various fields under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) so as to speed up Georgia's development.
During a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Zourabichvil said Georgia pursues the one-China policy and hopes to deepen cooperation with China in bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
Georgia is looking forward to further participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to promote practical cooperation with China in all fields, advance regional connectivity, speed up Georgia's development and build the country into a transit hub connecting Asia and Europe, said the president.
For his part, Wang said that bilateral relations have been developing quickly since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Georgia.
He noted that his visit serves as a friendly tour to carry forward the traditional friendship and refresh it with the content of the new times, a listening tour to know better about Georgian partner's opinions on domestic and international issues and enhance mutual understanding, and also a pioneering tour to explore new fields of mutual beneficial cooperation.
Wang stressed that China hopes Georgia, an important country in the Caucasus region, can establish good relationship with all neighboring countries. China welcomes Georgia to fully avail its regional advantages to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.
On Friday, Wang also met with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani in Tbilisi.
