China-Chile Visa-Free Travel Enhances Tourism, Fortifies Ties, Says Deputy Minister
In a significant step towards deepening ties, Georgia and China have been working to strengthen their civil aviation relationship, aiming to increase flight frequency and open new routes.
On July 8, 2025, a high-level meeting was held between Irakli Nadareishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and Han Jun, Deputy Director of China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC). The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in civil aviation, with the goal of strengthening collaboration and expanding operations of airlines from both countries [1][2].
One of the key drivers behind this push for increased connectivity is the introduction of visa-free travel between Georgia and China, which has led to a substantial increase in passenger traffic. Since its implementation on May 28, 2024, passenger numbers have risen by 45% in 2024, reaching 57,184 travelers, and surged by 90% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 [1][3][4].
Currently, two Chinese carriers, China Southern Airlines and Air China, operate flights along the Urumqi–Tbilisi–Urumqi route, offering a combined total of 10 weekly flights. Discussions are ongoing about increasing the frequency of these flights and adding new routes to meet growing demand [3].
The collaboration is not limited to passenger travel, as cooperation is also expanding in air cargo transportation, responding to rising trade volumes and increasing demand from airlines on both sides [1][3].
The meetings included other high-level officials such as Givi Davitashvili, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, and Zhou Qian, Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, emphasizing the strategic importance of aviation ties in bilateral relations [1][2].
In 2024, the number of air passengers traveling between Georgia and China increased by 45% compared to 2023. This growing air traffic is a reflection of the strengthening ties between the two countries in various sectors. Irakli Nadareishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Chinese airlines, with the expectation that the expansion of cooperation will contribute to the growing air traffic between Georgia and China [1][2][3].
In summary, the latest developments reflect a robust push to enhance civil aviation connectivity between Georgia and China by leveraging visa-free travel benefits, increasing flight frequencies, and exploring new routes to support growing economic, tourism, and trade relations [1][2][3]. This partnership is expected to continue to grow, with potential for new routes and increased flight frequency, further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
In light of the growing passenger traffic between Georgia and China, irakli Nadareishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, anticipates expanding cooperation with Chinese airlines, aiming to bolster the lifestyle sector and encourage travel. The discussions between high-level officials from both countries, such as Han Jun from the CAAC and Givi Davitashvili from the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, have set in motion plans for increasing flight frequencies and opening new routes, mirroring the strengthening ties in various sectors.
