Shandong's Qingdao and Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, establishes sister-city relations on July 16. [Photo/WeChat account: sdta12301]

Shandong's Qingdao and Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, established sister-city relations on July 16, with both sides agreeing to deepen and expand cooperation in trade, culture, healthcare and transportation.

Tbilisi is Georgia's largest city and a political, economic, cultural, and educational center. It is also an important transportation hub and economic center in the Caucasus region. In recent years, Qingdao and Tbilisi have engaged in a series of exchanges in areas such as machinery, automotive parts, electrical and electronic products, laying a solid foundation for cooperation.

Qingdao, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, is an important coastal city in China with a strong industrial base and rich in innovation resources.

Zhang Hui, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Qingdao Municipal Committee, said that Qingdao and Tbilisi have broad space for cooperation, and she expressed hope that both sides would seize the significant opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative, further deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation, and jointly compose a new chapter of friendship between the two cities.

George Akhvlediani, executive chairman of the Georgia-China Friendship Association, expressed appreciation for Qingdao's development achievements and showed great expectations for the prospects of cooperation between the two cities. He said he hopes that both sides will enhance exchanges, deepen cooperation, promote mutual benefits and win-win results, and achieve greater outcomes in fostering friendly relations between the two cities.