Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has traveled to Shanghai with a high-level government delegation as part of efforts to strengthen Georgia’s strategic and economic partnership with China.
According to the Government Administration, the delegation includes five ministers: Maka Bochorishvili (Foreign Affairs), Mariam Kvrivishvili (Economy and Sustainable Development), Davit Songulashvili (Environment and Agriculture), Lasha Khutsishvili (Finance), and Revaz Sokhadze (Infrastructure). The group also includes Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of the Government Administration, and Natia Turnava, President of the National Bank of Georgia.
Georgia and China have significantly deepened economic cooperation in recent years. Alongside the Free Trade Agreement signed in 2017, the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2023, aiming to enhance collaboration in sectors such as finance, energy, and infrastructure.
Georgia-China Free Trade Agreement was amended in 2024 to include updated provisions on e-commerce, technical trade barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and investment promotion. The new protocol is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2026.
Bilateral trade has seen steady growth. In 2024, trade turnover reached a record USD 1.9 billion, a 17% increase year-on-year. From January to September 2025, trade between the two countries amounted to USD 1.6 billion, up 15.3% compared to the same period last year.
China currently ranks as Georgia’s fourth-largest trading partner, and the third-largest importing source. Imports totaled USD 1.4 billion, while exports reached USD 216.9 million in the first nine months of 2025.
Top Imported Goods From China:
- Air conditioners – $46.1 million
- Flat-rolled carbon steel – $42.3 million
- Rubber tires and wheels – $40.6 million
- Passenger cars – $38.6 million
- Computing machinery and components – $37.8 million
Georgia also imports poultry meat, footwear, refrigerators, televisions, and machinery from China.
On the export side, China ranks seventh among Georgia’s trading partners, though exports decreased by 7.1% this year.
Top Exported Commodities:
- Precious metal ores and concentrates – $159.6 million
- Medical and veterinary equipment – $16.2 million
- Copper ores and concentrates – $11.5 million
- Spices – $10.9 million
- Natural grape wines – $6.9 million
Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Georgia began in 2002 and reached a record USD 220 million in 2014. The next major spike came in 2023, when investment totaled USD 98.4 million. In 2024, FDI declined to USD 29 million.
During the first quarter of 2025, Chinese investment amounted to USD 11.2 million, though the second quarter recorded a negative balance of –USD3.7 million, resulting in a net increase of USD 5.2 million for the first half of the year.
Chinese companies, including several state-owned enterprises, are involved in key Georgian infrastructure projects. The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has been selected as the preferred private partner for the Anaklia Deepwater Port project, though a final agreement has not yet been signed.
In 2025, the National Bank of Georgia and the People’s Bank of China also signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation and boost the presence of Chinese banks in Georgia’s financial market.
Bilateral travel has also expanded following the introduction of reciprocal visa-free travel. Georgian citizens have been able to visit China visa-free for up to 30 days since February 2024, while China lifted visa requirements for Georgians the previous year.
According to the National Tourism Administration, 96,333 visits were made from China to Georgia in the first nine months of 2025, representing a 45% year-on-year increase. In 2024, visits from China surged by 83%, reaching 88,583 - the highest figure on record.
