Governor of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), Natia Turnava, met with Yang Jun, Executive Vice President of Bank of China, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, on the sidelines of the Tbilisi Finance Summit to solidify bilateral financial ties and expand cross-border banking operations.

The high-level discussions focused on deepening financial cooperation between Georgia and China, enhancing connectivity between Georgian commercial banks and major Chinese financial entities, and unlocking new avenues for cross-border banking services.

As part of the visit, the Chinese delegation held direct bilateral meetings with representatives of Georgian commercial banks to map out concrete frameworks for future institutional collaboration.

During the summit, the NBG signed a landmark master agreement with Bank of China governing investor access to the China Interbank Bond Market (CIBM). Under the agreement, Bank of China will serve as the primary service provider for the NBG on the CIBM platform, expanding Georgia’s investment reach and sharpening risk management within the Chinese bond market.

Additionally, the two institutions signed an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Framework Agreement. This master derivative agreement gives the NBG expanded access to foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives, providing sophisticated tools to manage FX and interest rate risks across Georgia’s foreign exchange reserves more efficiently.

The ISDA agreement will also bolster investment capabilities within the CIBM market, granting the NBG greater flexibility when managing the Chinese Yuan component of its foreign exchange reserves.

“Against the backdrop of expanding trade and economic relations between Georgia and China, it is vital that this momentum is backed by robust financial ties and modern banking infrastructure,” Natia Turnava stated. “Deeper cooperation with Bank of China opens new horizons for Georgian commercial banks in international correspondent banking networks, cross-border payments, and trade settlements. Our goal is to foster direct collaboration between Georgian and Chinese financial institutions and expand the global footprint of Georgia’s financial sector.”

Yang Jun highlighted Bank of China’s strong commitment to expanding international financial channels and exploring deeper collaboration with the Georgian banking sector.

“The steady evolution of economic relations between Georgia and China forms a solid foundation for expanding financial cooperation,” Yang Jun noted. “Engaging in direct dialogue with Georgian commercial banks allows us to better understand their operational specifics, identify key requirements, and pinpoint promising avenues for joint ventures. We trust that meetings of this nature will build strong institutional links and create new opportunities in financial services.”

Bank of China is one of China’s premier banking institutions, maintaining an extensive global footprint across 64 countries and territories outside mainland China. Its international reach positions the bank as a key global partner for international trade, cross-border settlements, and institutional financial services.

According to the NBG, the agreements concluded at the Tbilisi Financial Summit mark a significant step forward in deepening business ties between the financial sectors of both nations, creating new partnership channels for Georgian commercial banks and broadening Georgia’s integration into international financial networks.