Chinese Ambassador: China, Georgia have strong foundations for expanding high-tech, AI cooperation

Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, on Saturday said that the two countries have a solid political foundation and favourable conditions for expanding cooperation in high-tech sectors, including digital economy development, artificial intelligence, and innovation-driven industries.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Zhou outlined China’s advancements in high-tech sectors and Georgia’s ambitions to become a regional digital hub.

“In recent years, China has achieved landmark successes in high-tech fields, and its comprehensive innovation capabilities are among the world’s leading. In several strategically emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and cutting-edge software, aviation and large-scale scientific facilities, advanced manufacturing and high-end equipment, information and communication technologies and quantum technologies, biomedicine and medical devices, China has transformed from a follower to a side-by-side runner, and even to a leader”, he said.

The Ambassador pointed out that Georgia places great importance on technological development and has made progress in fintech, IT services, outsourcing, and e-governance.

“Georgia attaches great importance to scientific and technological development, especially given that the government has clearly stated its intention to turn Georgia into a regional digital hub and data centre, achieving significant progress in areas such as fintech, IT services, outsourcing, and e-governance”, he stressed.

He further highlighted that the two countries have signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation in digital economy and AI cooperation.

“China and Georgia have a strong political foundation and favourable conditions for high-tech cooperation. The relevant government agencies of both countries have signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation in digital economy investment and artificial intelligence”, he noted.

Zhou also mentioned that Chinese companies were exploring student exchange programmes in artificial intelligence with Georgian universities.

“In addition, Chinese high-tech companies are considering opportunities to implement student exchange programs in the field of artificial intelligence with Georgian universities. More importantly, unlike the technological blockade approach of some countries, China adopts an open attitude in fields such as artificial intelligence, promotes the development of open-source AI models instead of closed-source ones, and is ready to share its experience with Georgia and other countries”, he said.

He called for joint exploration of opportunities in the digital economy, smart cities, big data centres, fintech, and agricultural digitalisation.

“Enterprises from both countries can, building on Georgia’s industrial base, explore cooperation opportunities in areas such as the digital economy and IT services, artificial intelligence and smart cities, big data processing centres, fintech, agricultural digitalisation, and more, thereby continuously enhancing the level of practical cooperation between China and Georgia”, Zhou concluded.