Azernews.Az

Georgia has a desire to become a bridge between the East and West, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at the opening of the international conference "Connections between Asia and Europe - the regional economic integration at the South Caucasus and Asia" in Tbilisi on May 16.

The conference on regional economic integration of the South Caucasus and Asia started in the capital of Georgia under the auspices of the U.S. State Department and the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute.

"The theme of today's meeting is a corridor between Asia and Europe, the center of which is Georgia," he said. "The Georgian government has a strong desire to play a bridging role and develop a transit corridor. This is in Georgia's strategic interest."

Ivanishvili stressed three priorities, namely, improving a transit infrastructure, creating a free business environment and fruitful cooperation with neighboring countries.

"Significant investments have been placed in the development of highways," he said. "Rail lines are being improved. A new Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is under construction."

Ivanishvili said that besides small scale corruption, the new Georgian government has eradicated corruption from senior positions. This contributes to business development and regional cooperation.