The US Vice President Joe Biden has traveled to Georgia to reaffirm support for the country, where US and Russian interests have collided in recent years.

On Wednesday, in an ironic start to his visit, Biden's motorcade traveled along George W. Bush Avenue, the main thoroughfare linking Tbilisi's airport with the city center, re-named several years ago in honor of the former US president.

"The reason why President Obama asked me to go to Georgia was to send a clear and simple message that America's stand with Georgia will continue," Biden said at a dinner hosted by the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"We were first and foremost inspired by your quest for independence. What you did (in the popular revolution in 2003) extended well beyond the borders of Georgia," Biden added.

Saakashvili, whose drive to end the Russian sway and ally his strategically-located country with the United States was strongly backed by Bush, in turn thanked Washington for its support and pledged that Georgia "will never ever surrender" to Russia.

The clash of US and Russian interests in Georgia was highlighted a year ago when Russia and Georgia fought a brief war that resulted in a humiliating defeat for Saakashvili.

Biden was expected, however, to reassure Georgia that this US policy pursuit would not come at the expense of support for Georgia, a message he also delivered to Ukraine which he visited ahead of his trip to Georgia.

In Kiev earlier, Biden told Ukraine that its economic future depended in large measure on freeing itself from dependence on Russian energy and pledged US help in finding solutions.

SG/SME/RE