#connectivity
Voice for CHOICE #30: Making Sense of Georgia’s Strategic Partnership with China with Emil Avdaliani
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a momentum for Georgia to become a major transit hub as both the EU and China are looking to diversify their trade routes away from Russia. Over the past decade, Tbilisi and Beijing have deepened their economic ties. At the end of July 2023, China and Georgia announced an upgrade in bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. While China is seeking to expand its presence in the South Caucusus, Tbilisi might be using the partnership with China to grant concessions from Brussels ahead of the EU’s decision on the country’s candidacy for membership.
Anticipating China’s New Paradigm for Central Asia
In what is the first instance of China hosting an offline summit with all five Central Asian states, the event is expected to bring significant results dwarfing other major players’ ambitions in the region.
With China’s Zero-COVID Policy Consigned to History, Chinese Tourists Are Back in Central and Eastern Europe
With the Chinese leadership’s sudden reversal of the country’s zero-COVID policy along with its gradual reopening since early December 2022, tourism is very much back on China’s agenda for cooperation with foreign countries, including Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
China Still Ambivalent About the Middle Corridor
Despite the oft-touted momentum behind the Eurasian Middle Corridor circumventing Russia, China still appears not be fully behind the project beset by geopolitical challenges and infrastructure hurdles.