Georgia and China Update Free Trade Agreement as Anaklia Port Negotiations Intensify
By Messenger Staff
Friday, April 24, 2026
Georgian Dream Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili is currently in Beijing on a mission to tighten economic ties between Georgia and China. On April 22, she sat down with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to sign a new protocol that updates the 2018 free trade agreement.
The ministry says this move "envisages the adaptation of the existing agreement to the requirements of the modern trade environment," effectively adding new areas for the two countries to work together.
Kvrivishvili called the update a "strategically important step" toward boosting trade. The numbers show why: since the original deal launched, Georgian exports to China have jumped 62%, hitting $327.6 million in 2025. China has already become Georgia's top export partner, and total trade turnover surged another 55% in just the first quarter of 2026. The Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze noted on April 23 that "negotiations are underway on expanding the scope of the agreement," with more details coming once the ink is dry.
One of the biggest items on the agenda is the Anaklia deep-sea port. The mega-project has been stuck in limbo for years, but the government revived it as the "Middle Corridor" transit route gained importance following Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. In 2024, the government picked a Sino-Singaporean consortium for the project, but talks have reportedly been slow.
Kobakhidze confirmed the port is a major goal of this visit, telling reporters, "negotiations are continuing" and that updates are expected soon.
Kvrivishvili also spent time courting China's energy giants on April 23. She met with Wang Yuetao, chairman of China ZhenHua Oil, and Huanlong Chen, chairman of Geo-Jade Petroleum Corporation. The discussions centered on "energy sector cooperation" and the potential for oil and gas extraction within Georgia.
According to the ministry, the Chinese firms showed real interest in investing, especially with Kvrivishvili highlighting how the visa-free regime and free trade deal make Georgia's market a "more interesting" spot for investors. Before heading to Beijing, the minister also met with Zhuang Rongwen, head of China's Cyberspace Administration, in Tbilisi on April 21, rounding out a week of heavy diplomatic and economic maneuvering.
