Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili has welcomed his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan in Tbilisi, saying he was happy to host his "dear colleague" in Georgia, on 8 September.

"I would like to once again congratulate my colleague on the convincing victory in the parliamentary election (in Armenia on 20 June 2021). I am confident that he will bring success and development to Armenia and the Armenian people," Gharibashvili said at a meeting with Pashinyan.

Pashinyan thanked Gharibashvili for inviting him to Georgia. "It is always a great honour and pleasure to visit the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, because it is a good opportunity to meet good friends and discuss issues of regional and bilateral cooperation. I am glad that relations between our countries and governments are so close, and I am confident that this meeting will further deepen and improve the quality of these relations," stated Pashinyan.

Following a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, a larger meeting was held on 8 September. It was attended by Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan, Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili, and Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze.

At a joint news briefing on 8 September, Pashinyan once again thanked Gharibashvili for his role in securing the release of 15 Armenian prisoners from Azerbaijan's custody.

In June 2021, Azerbaijan freed 15 Armenian captives in exchange for the maps of 97,000 landmines in Agdam District, which Baku reclaimed in the September-November 2020 Karabakh war.

The Georgian government said the swap became possible due to efforts taken by the United States and Georgia.

For his part, Gharibashvili said on 8 September that the three countries of the South Caucasus - Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan - shared three major goals. "These are peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

"Several months ago, we had the opportunity and, in particular with my mediation, Mr Prime Minister's direct involvement, and efforts by the Azerbaijani president (Ilham Aliyev), the three countries were able to reach an agreement related to the return of Armenian captives to their homeland and to hand over important documents - maps - to Azerbaijan. This successful precedent provides [optimistic] grounds [for showing that] we are capable of doing more," Gharibashvili said.

Gharibashvili reiterated Georgia's readiness to continue active mediation and discuss new ideas of cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, and transport.

Pashinyan also spoke regional stability and security at a separate face-to-face meeting with President Salome Zourabichvili on 8 September. Pashinyan arrived in Georgia on 8 September for a two-day visit. His last visit to Georgia was in March 2020.