British Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Alan Duncan is visiting Georgia on November 24-25, the Georgian and British Foreign Ministries reported.

During his visit the British minister will meet President Giorgi Margvelashvili; he has already held talks with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

Alan Duncan will open the third round of annual bilateral strategic dialogue, known as the Wardrop Dialogue. 2016 is the first time the event is taking place in Georgia, where the parties discuss cooperation on security and defence, economic and commercial ties, and the mutual values which underpin an increasingly strong bilateral relationship.

Prior to his visit, Alan Duncan said that his country’s commitment to Georgia, “as an international security partner and regional democratic role model, is unwavering.”

“Through its democratic credentials, open economy and progressive human rights, Georgia is playing a vital role in the stability and security of the wider region. Georgia’s progression towards Euro-Atlantic integration, both through NATO and the EU, will only serve to build on the progress already made,” he said.

“We are committed to supporting Georgia as it seeks to strengthen democratic institutions, undertake important reforms, and further protect human rights and media freedom,” the British minister of state said, according to the UK Foreign Office.

He also said that the British Good Governance Fund will provide up to £4.5million over the next year to help Georgia’s reforms.

“I look forward to positive and progressive cooperation with the new democratically-elected government over the years ahead,” he added.