Tbilisi, December 14 (ANI): India and Georgia held the 8th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Tbilisi on Saturday to review and strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments.
The discussions, held on 13 December 2025, covered the full spectrum of bilateral engagement, including political cooperation, trade and economic ties, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts. The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (West) Sibi George, and the Georgian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvitisiashvili.
Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explored ways to expand cooperation into new areas. They agreed to maintain regular official exchanges to consolidate cooperation and further deepen the strategic relationship between India and Georgia. Views were also exchanged on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted in a post on X that Secretary (West) Sibi George co-chaired the consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Khvitisiashvili, reiterating a shared commitment to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation.
India recognised Georgia’s independence in December 1991 and established a resident mission in Tbilisi in July 2024; previously the Indian Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, was concurrently accredited to Georgia. Georgia opened its Embassy in New Delhi in 2009.
Historical and cultural links between the two countries date back centuries. Indian folklore, notably the Panchatantra, influenced Georgian folk legends; Georgians served in Mughal courts in India. The 19th-century Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani depicted India in works such as “Hunting in India.” In 2021, relics of Queen St Ketevan, found at Goa’s St Augustine Church, were partly returned to Georgia in a gesture facilitated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, underscoring longstanding cultural ties. (ANI)
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