On November 4, witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Shanghai, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia on the Conclusion of the China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement upgrading Negotiations.

The China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which officially entered into force in January 2018, is the first FTA launched and concluded by China following the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the first FTA between China and a country in Eurasia. The agreement has played a significant role in advancing bilateral economic and trade relations. The FTA upgrading Negotiations were launched in July 2025 and, after two rounds of talks, have now been formally concluded, with expanded and improved provisions in areas such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, investment, and e-commerce.

The upgraded FTA will inject new momentum into the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, which are based on mutual trust and win-win cooperation. It will help expand two-way trade and investment, promote cooperation between enterprises of the two countries, and create a more transparent and favorable business environment. Following the signing of the MoU, sides will proceed with their respective domestic procedures to facilitate the early signing, entry into force, and implementation of the protocol to upgrade the FTA.