The hosting of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) as scheduled proves that China has successfully contained the COVID-19 pandemic within its borders and is ready to contribute to the global economic recovery, a former Georgian ambassador to China has said.

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the opening of the CIIE fully demonstrates that "China has been continuously modernizing its national economy and expanding imports from the rest of the world," David Aptsiauri told Xinhua recently.

Aptsiauri said that as the world's largest import-themed fair, the CIIE clearly demonstrates China's readiness to "promote active global cooperation and contribute to overcoming the global economic crisis" caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that the expo has provided a good opportunity for Georgian companies to showcase their products to Chinese customers and the whole world at large.

"By joining the Expo, Georgia can not only increase its exports to China, but also learn new technology to optimize their export products' structure, which is more important for the country," said the former envoy.

"Today China is one of Georgia's leading international trade partners," Aptsiauri said, adding that China ranks third among Georgia's largest trade partners as of May this year.

"In this regard, Georgia's participation in the CIIE will be more and more active in the future," he said.