REFERENCE NEWS, Oct. 8 — Citing a Sputnik report on Oct. 8, Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, stated at a government meeting recently that China’s total direct investment in Georgia reached 236 million US dollars in the first half of this year.

“China ranks first in this indicator,” Kobakhidze said. “In the first eight months of this year, Georgia’s exports of goods to China increased by 177%.”

Kobakhidze said that economic relations between Georgia and China have been developing continuously, and the free trade agreement has already delivered tangible outcomes. Kobakhidze noted that the number of direct flights between the two countries has increased, with 14 weekly flights currently in operation.