Shalva Papuashvili Says Anti-Chinese Narratives Jeopardize Georgia's Strategic Projects
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, January 22, 2024
Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, accused those fueling anti-Chinese narratives of jeopardizing strategic projects and transforming Georgia from a corridor into a dead end.
"Presenting this as something special now is absolute manipulation and anti-Georgian propaganda, as it goes against the interests of Georgia. The interest of Georgia lies in the Middle Corridor, the Silk Road, through which a significant amount of cargo is currently being transferred. This comes after the so-called 'northern corridor,' which runs through Russia, has been blocked and appears to remain closed for an extended period.
Now, we have the opportunity to utilize this corridor for the movement of cargo between China and the European Union through Georgia. One should contemplate the motivations and funding behind those opposing it. The fact remains that those who are currently fueling anti-Chinese sentiments in Georgia are aiming to disrupt the country's strategic projects, transforming Georgia from a corridor into a dead end," Papuashvili said.
When asked about developments in this direction following his visit to China, the chairman of the parliament mentioned that the project focuses on the development of the Middle Corridor, which, in turn, does not involve the generation of any cargo or goods.
"The concept behind the corridor is to facilitate the transport of cargo originating from another country, passing through our corridor. When we assert that this functions as a bridge between Europe and Asia, what is intended by 'Asia' is that they ought to open the map-be it political, economic, or including the physical map. Examine the routes of the corridors, trace the origins of the cargoes, and identify the interests, political groups, or financial entities supporting those individuals attempting to transform Georgia into a dead end rather than a strategically significant corridor," Papuashvili stated.
