Georgia will receive a $9.3 million grant from China, according to Georgia's Ministry of Finance. This grant is part of an agreement signed on economic and technical cooperation on behalf of Georgian Minister of Finance Dimitry Gvindadze and China's Ambassador to Georgia, H.E. Mr. Chen Jianfu, on December 19.

Jianfu highlighted the bilateral ties between China and Georgia, saying that the trade negotiations between the two countries are improving each year. “We have very strong economic and trade relations with Georgia,” he noted.

Over the past several years, China has become one of the countries that provides financial support to Georgia. Since 2005, the Chinese government has allocated $ 15.8 million in grant money for Georgia and $ 4.7 million in loans as an interest-free commodity credit.

Speaking on Monday, Gvindadze refrained from going into details where the funds will go. However, he said that agriculture will be one of the priority sectors. “[Financing] for the other sectors will be verified by our bilateral commission which will be convened in 2012,” he said.

Source: www.georgiatoday.ge