MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

As part of the working visit of the First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili to China, the Memorandum of Understanding on Promotion of Transport Corridors for China-Europe Railway Express, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor)" was signed. The signing ceremony took place at the National Development and Reforms Commission of the People's Republic of China and was signed by Levan Davitashvili and the Vice Chairman of the Commission, Zhao Chenxin.

"The signing of the Memorandum gives us the opportunity to establish closer trade and economic ties with China, to attract additional investments in the country, and also to increase the export of Georgian products to China. In addition, the signing of the document confirms the willingness and interest of the Chinese side to actively use the Middle Corridor as an alternative transport route to connect with Europe. As a result, we will be able to attract more freight to our corridor, which will increase the importance of Georgia as a regional hub," – Levan Davitashvili stated after signing the Memorandum.

The Memorandum envisages the deepening of cooperation between Georgia and China in order to ensure stronger efforts and effective functioning of the Middle Corridor. The Memorandum states that the parties will work together to attract additional cargo to the Middle Corridor by optimizing routes, developing infrastructure and improving transport services, as well as by strengthening cooperation on customs, transport security and digitization. The signing of the Memorandum will contribute to the growth of cargo flows through the Middle Corridor from China to Europe and vice versa, as well as to the strengthening of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Before the signing, Levan Davitashvili and Zhao Chenxin discussed the priority directions of bilateral relations between Georgia and China. It was noted that the Declaration signed between the countries on Strategic Partnership has moved the relations of the two countries to a much higher level of cooperation. The signing of the Memorandum, within the framework of which the cooperation between Georgia and China will significantly contribute to the development of the infrastructure of the Middle Corridor, increasing its competitiveness and attracting additional cargoes, was also given a positive evaluation.

They also discussed the ongoing large transport and logistics projects in Georgia, the implementation of which will significantly contribute to the development of the Middle Corridor connecting Europe and Asia. Attention was focused on such projects as the modernization of the railway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Anaklia Deep Sea harbor project. It was noted that the development of transport and logistics infrastructure is a priority of the Georgian government.

Taking into account the situation in the region, the advantages of the Middle Corridor are currently attracting more attention. In addition, it was emphasized that for the further development of the route, it is important to increase the involvement of the Chinese side, including the launching of regular railway traffic. The recent growing dynamics of the cargo flow from China and in the Middle Corridor in China was positively evaluated since  during the period of January - July 2024, the number of containers transported through the Middle Corridor was increased by approximately six times.
Representatives of the two countries confirmed their intentions to contribute to the growth of the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor and the joint development of its transport and logistics infrastructure component.