STORY: Cooperation, friendship with China crucial: Georgian PM
SHOOTING TIME: April 23, 2024 & File
DATELINE: April 26, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:16
LOCATION: Tbilisi
CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Irakli Kobakhidze speaking at the ceremony (April 23, 2024)
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister
3. various of the tunnel (April 23, 2024)
4. various of the project (File)
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister
6. various of street view of Tbilisi (File)
7. various of Georgia (File)
8. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister

STORYLINE:

Cooperation and friendship with China are crucial and the strategic partnership with China has already led to tangible results, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister
"(With) the visa-free regime that has been introduced between China and Georgia for our citizens mutually, we have direct flights between our two countries, we have the free trade agreements signed between the two countries, so we have very tangible results, and the results come from our partnership. We are very much committed to this friendship and cooperation, and we are very much committed to further strengthening the cooperation with China."

Kobakhidze made such remarks Tuesday while attending an event to mark the completion of the construction of a major tunnel on the Kvesheti-Kobi road section in Georgia by the China Railway Tunnel Group.

The tunnel, located in northern Georgia, includes a 9,000-meter-long main tunnel and emergency tunnels.

With its operation, travel time on the Kvesheti-Kobi road segment will be reduced from one hour to 20 minutes.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister
"The project is the longest-ever tunnel in Georgia, which has been constructed. It plays a very important role for us in terms of strengthening our connectivity function. It has a very important economic impact, it will also have a very important social impact, it will also promote tourism in this very important region for Georgia."

Kobakhidze added that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is very important and programs under the framework would help strengthen the country's connectivity, a key national development priority.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister
"All these investments, all of these projects will play a very important role for us, in order to be an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tbilisi.
(XHTV)