PM Kvirikashvili Attends World Economic Forum
Georgia and Jordan signed a mutual agreement on deepening cooperation in tourism within the frames of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa 2017 held in Jordan last weekend.
Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and his Jordanian counterpart, Hani Mulki, also attended the signing ceremony.
The Prime Ministers held a face-to-face meeting and also expressed interest in boosting cooperation other fields, including in economic relations.
Kvirikashvili also met Jordan's Crown Prince, Al Hussein bin Abdullah II to discuss issues of mutual cooperation. Both expressed hope that the decision of the Georgian government to abolish visas for Jordanian citizens would further deepen ties between the two countries.
Developments in the Middle East and their influence on global security were also discussed by the officials, and the fact that the two states actively contribute to global security in the fight against terrorism was noted.
The Georgian Prime Minister attended the opening ceremony of the WEF, the key speakers of which included Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Philip IV of Spain, and WEF Founder Professor Klaus Schwab.
The speakers emphasized regional economic cooperation, the development of modern technology and the importance of engaging young people and tapping into new opportunities.
Together with the Georgian PM, the Forum's opening ceremony was attended by the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Victor Dolidze; First Deputy Foreign Minister, Davit Zalkaliani; Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Genadi Arveladze; and the Prime Minister's Foreign Advisor, Tedo Japaridze.
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is led by the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
This year the forum was held at the Dead Sea, Jordan, on 19-21 May and gathered over 1,200 government, business and civil society leaders from more than 50 countries.
The Georgian delegation also met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende within the frames of the Forum whereby Georgia’s progress on its path towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the reforms implemented in Georgia were key issues.
Kvirikashvili personally met King Philip IV of Spain, and WEF Founder Professor, Klaus Schwab.
On Sunday, the Georgian PM met with the current High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Frederica Mogherini.
Reforms implemented by the Georgian government, the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations were the topics of the meeting. The sides also discussed the current situation in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Kvirikashvili noted that Georgia continues effective implementation of the Association Agreement and the Association Agenda 2017-2020 while the PM’s Press Office reports that Mogherini confirmed the European Union’s unwavering support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and noted that the EU is committed to the non-recognition policy of the occupied territories.
Thea Morrison