On August 9, Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, conducted a productive discussion with H.E. Paata Kalandadze, Ambassador of Georgia to China, who was in Ningxia to attend the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo.

Bai Yuzhen emphasized that under the strategic leadership of the two heads of states, the China-Georgia relationship has been upgraded to a strategic partnership. This signifies an enhancement of the long-standing friendly ties and collaborative efforts between the two countries, and opens up new horizons for advanced cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural, and international affairs. As a pivotal player in China’s burgeoning wine regions, Ningxia has a rich history of collaboration with Georgia in viticulture, winemaking, and cultural exchanges. She hoped that, with the Expo as a fresh opportunity, the two sides would further practical collaboration in the wine sector. Through wine, Ningxia aspires to broaden its cooperation with Georgia in economy and trade, agriculture, education, culture, and tourism, and establish international friendship city relationships with provinces and wine-producing cities in Georgia. With wine as a narrative, Ningxia will present China, its fine wines and itself to the world.

Ambassador Paata Kalandadze extended congratulations on the success of the Expo, noting that it has created a platform for international dialogue, mutual learning, and the efforts to pursue open development. He expressed readiness to work with Ningxia to deepen industrial cooperation, foster stronger bonds between the two peoples, and achieve a wider and more diverse range of mutually beneficial outcomes.

Zhang Liwei, Deputy Director-General of the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, and officials from the Asian and African Affairs Division and the International Economic Cooperation Division were also present.