Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has set out for Baku on the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev. On November 24, the Head of Government will attend the SPECA (United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia) Baku Economic Forum as Guest of Honor.

The Prime Minister of Georgia will deliver a speech at the Summit of Heads of State scheduled within the scope of the forum. Irakli Garibashvili will also meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the SPECA, this year's forum will be chaired by Azerbaijan.

Press Service of the Government Administration

The entry of the Luxury Collection, a top-tier brand of Marriott's international chain, into our country marks a new paragraph in Georgia's hospitality industry, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at the opening ceremony of Paragraph Tbilisi Hotel.

As the Head of Government pointed out, this is another exceptional project for Georgia.

"Greetings, dear friends! I greet our Parliament Speaker, Tbilisi Mayor, Party Chairman, and MPs, our dear guests, esteemed audience. I am excited to be participating in the opening ceremony of this excellent, unique hotel. I congratulate all of you on the completion of this unique project. This is another exceptional project for our capital, our country.

"I would like to say a few words about the importance of this project. Before that, let me remind you that, in 2018, the Autograph Collection, a brand of Marriott's international chain, entered our country and, as you all know well, opened the famous Paragraph Shekvetili Hotel, a truly exceptional hotel in the entire region. Today, the entry of the Luxury Collection, a top-tier brand of Marriott's international chain, into our country marks a new paragraph in Georgia's hospitality industry. Given the positive dynamic in the tourism and hospitality sector, the operation of this excellent, unique new hotel in the capital's center is very important, of course. Thus, I once again congratulate all of you. I also want to emphasize that the hotel's international-standard infrastructure, modern multifunctional complex, 220 rooms, and five restaurants of different categories, along with various spaces, all this allows the hotel to host top-level international events, business conferences, visitors, vacationers, our tourists," Irakli Garibashvili stated.

According to the Prime Minister, the total investment value of Paragraph Tbilisi is 150 million USD.

"Besides its investment value-which is in itself a direct contribution to Georgia's economy-it is also important that this stands for stimulating the development of new services and, most importantly, hundreds of jobs for the capital. It is with special gratitude that I would like to underline the role of the project's main author, Mister Bidzina Ivanishvili, and once again thank him for the implementation of such an important, remarkable project. I would like to thank the Co-Investment Fund, its every employee, everyone involved in the implementation of this outstanding project. I am convinced that this new hotel will soon become a place favored by Tbilisi's guests. I also would like to say that, for many years, the Co-Investment Fund has been actively participating in the development of our country's economy. Of course, I would like to reiterate the enormous volume of charity carried out by Mister Bidzina Ivanishvili-charity amounting to over 3 billion USD, and now hundreds of millions of USD contributed to the development of our country. Also, I would like to point out briefly that, in the past 10 years, some 85,000 new hotel beds have been created across the country, with the total investment amounting to over 2 billion GEL. Tourism is developing rapidly in our country. Last year, the country received 3.5 billion USD in revenues from international travel. In the first three quarters of this year, Georgia has already received 3.3 billion USD in revenues. All this allows us to be very optimistic about the country's development, the economy's development. Thus, I once again congratulate you on the completion of this new project. Thank you very much!" the Head of Government said.

The event's invited guests were also addressed with speeches by the Hotel Management Company's CEO George Togonidze, President of Marriott International Chain Satya Anand, the Georgian Tourism Development Fund's CEO Giorgi Baidarashvili, and Paragraph Tbilisi's General Manager Thomas van Opstal.

Paragraph Tbilisi is a hotel under the first Luxury Collection brand of the Marriott international chain. The total investment of Paragraph Tbilisi amounts to 150 million USD. The hotel includes 220 rooms, five restaurants, with top-category spas on three floors, and hi-tech meeting and conference spaces. The number of people employed by Paragraph Tbilisi and Paragraph Shekvetili exceeds 900.

Paragraph Tbilisi will be able to host international events of the highest category and attract new types of business visitors and vacationers to Georgia.

The Autograph Collection brand of the Marriott International Chain entered Georgia on the initiative of the Tourism Development Fund in 2018 by opening the famous Paragraph Shekvetili Hotel.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia met H.E. Zhou Qian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Georgia today.

Friendly and strategic partnership between the two countries was noted with satisfaction at the meeting. Current agenda of bilateral relations was also discussed.

Intensification of cooperation between the countries in various areas was given a high assessment and hopes were expressed towards the format of strategic partnership, which will lead to a further development of sectoral, economic and trade relations between the people.

Successful cooperation between the two countries was also highlighted at the meeting for the development of a special geopolitical location of Georgia, which increases its potential as a corridor connecting east and west.

Historic importance of the visit paid by the Prime Minister of Georgia at the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China was highlighted at the meeting and its huge role in solidifying the relations between Georgia and China at a strategic level.

Prime Minister of Georgia most positively reiterated the outstanding role, vision and achievements of effective governance of the President of the People's Republic of China in the transformation and advancement of China, thereby focusing on various wide-scale reforms planned by the Government of China under the leadership of the President, including the initiatives of global significance, as well as different and extraordinary vision of the President of China in solving and regulating the problems witnessed at a regional and international scale.

The Prime Minister of Georgia also commented on the statement made by the Mme President of Georgia in relation to H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China in an interview with a French Television Channel LCI, thereby stating that such wording is categorically unacceptable and alarming.

Referred rhetoric contradicts the attitude of the Georgian authorities and people of Georgia towards China and does not comply with a friendly, strategic partnership spirit of the two countries, thereby harming the friendly relations and partnership between the two countries. According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, it is unfortunate and by far not the first instance when Mme President of Georgia has violated the Constitution by harming the state interests, pursuing individual activities and making personal assessments of international affairs that are not aligned with the government position, as a result of which the international image of the country suffers. Her public and grave breaches of the Constitution have served as a reason for the ruling team to initiate the Impeachment of Mme President.

According to the Prime Minister, Georgia is a parliamentary republic, whereby the president is not entitled to run the foreign policy of the country. It is the exclusive discretion of the Government of Georgia to carry out the foreign policy of the country and such a mandate has only been granted to the Government by the Georgian people. Thus, the statement made by Mme President of Georgia does not even formally express the attitude of the Georgian authorities towards the state and leader of China.

The Prime Minister of Georgia expressed deploration for the statement made by the President of Georgia, thereby expressing hopes that it will not affect or harm the historically most positive relationship dynamics between Georgia and China.

By the close of the meeting, dignitaries expressed readiness to maintain the active agenda of relations and to work for greater solidification of interaction between the two countries.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia met Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France today.

The Head of Government of Georgia was hosted by the French President at the Élysée Palace.

Meeting was focused on the decision made by the European Commission on recommending a status of EU Candidate Country be granted to Georgia by the European Council,

The Prime Minister of Georgia noted that it is a historic decision and Georgia expects a status to be granted by the European Council in December 2023, as it defines the European future of our country. Irakli Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to Emmanuel Macron, for the support demonstrated on this path, thereby highlighting the great significance of the political and practical support provided by France being a leading country of the EU. The Head of Government of Georgia expressed hopes that it will further solidify and help Georgia in successfully advancing on the following stages of accession.

Irakli Garibashvili and Emmanuel Macron reviewed the cooperation between the two countries and discussed the prospects of deepening it in various areas.

Meeting also touched upon the security environment within the region and throughout the world.

Dignitaries discussed the solution to existing challenges and the positive role that can be played by Georgia in reaching security and stability in the South Caucasus.

Irakli Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to Emmanuel Macron for the solid support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and European future of Georgia, thereby inviting him to visit the country.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia met Charles Michel, President of the European Council today.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held an introductory meeting with Meline Arakelian, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili hosted a dinner in honor of Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission.

The EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell will travel to Georgia on 7-8 September. His first official visit to the country in the current capacity will provide the opportunity to discuss progress on Georgia’s European integration path, and exchange views on wider foreign policy and regional matters.

During the visit, the High Representative will be received by Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia. The HR/VP will also meet Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili. Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, a joint press conference will be held.

He will also hold a meeting with Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The HR/VP will also take the opportunity to meet with representatives of all political parties present in the Parliament and hold discussions with civil society representatives.

The HR/VP will during his visit mark 15 years of EUMM presence in Georgia, reflecting the EU’s commitment to Georgia’s security and peaceful conflict resolution. He will participate in mission activities along the Administrative Boundary Line, organised by the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM).

Follow also @JosepBorrellF and @eu_eeas for further information.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held a face-to-face meeting with Alihan Smaiylov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

Today, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the Permanent Representatives of various countries to the UN.