Georgia has experienced rapid development in recent years due to a long-term planning strategy that took inspiration from the Chinese model, said Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.
In an interview with China Media Group that aired on Friday, Papuashvili praised China's systematic approach to growth, noting that the country's planning system allows it to set clear, multi-year goals for future development.
"Generally, I think not only for us, but for many countries worldwide, why is China an example of transformation and development of country - be it political development, be it economic development, be it development of the society? And in this regard, especially when the country (China) is looking at the future, has a planning system which goes for years and knows the aims and what should be the final results of different steps, it shows that it's a systematic approach which China is following, and this is what actually enabled the huge steps in economic development of China," said Papuashvili.
This year marks the beginning year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national socioeconomic development. Papuashvili emphasized that Georgia is actively drawing inspiration from this model to fuel its own national progress.
"In this regard, China is a good example for us to follow, which by the way is also in Georgia the case, especially for last five, six years. Georgia's economy developed very fast. And we have also long-term planning for this term of the Parliament until 2028. We have set different aims for the economic development, for the employment rates," said the speaker.
Papuashvili visited China from May 18 to 20.
Rapid development in Georgia attributable to Chinese-inspired planning: parliament speaker
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that decisions on war and negotiations rest with Iran's leadership and the Supreme National Security Council, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the two countries were still expected to sign a memorandum of understanding later in the day.
At a meeting on Sunday, Pezeshkian said that everyone must obey the decisions made by Iran's Supreme Leader, adding that the Iranian government simultaneously pursues the well-being of its people, national sovereignty, and the development of regional relations.
He stressed that through internal unity, proactive diplomacy, and economic reforms, Iran will overcome challenges.
On the same day, prior to Israel's attack on Lebanon, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team said a Qatari negotiating delegation was in Tehran, Iran's capital, and that the Iranian side was using the Qatari team to convey to the United States the terms it hoped to include in an Iran-U.S. agreement, as well as specific details it considered important.
The source emphasized that no final decision had been reached yet.
Regarding the ups and downs in the negotiations, the source said that, despite setbacks, Iran remains committed to the principle that all of its concerns must ultimately be fully taken into account. The source added that even if Iran's positions are fully reflected in the agreement, Tehran will not sign any deal within the timeframe announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, the Israeli military again launched an airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon.
In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on social media that the Israeli strike had once again shown the United States "either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so," making it impossible to continue the dialogue process.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that the U.S. and Iran still had a good chance of signing a memorandum of understanding later in the day, which would restart cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and lift U.S. blockades on Iranian ports.
In an interview with U.S. media, Hegseth said the two countries are "on track to" sign a deal to end fighting on Sunday.
"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," he said.
Hegseth said that after the agreement is signed, the U.S. and Iran will have 60 days to negotiate a longer-term peace arrangement and tackle broader issues, including Iran's nuclear program.
He said that the agreement is performance-based, meaning that no funds will be released to Iran until the Iranian side performs.
Iranian president says Iran's leadership decides on war, talk; US defense secretary expects MoU signed on Sunday
