The approval of the new strategy for Czechia's engagement in Africa reflects the fact that Africa has gained geopolitical, strategic, security and economic weight. In the following period, Czechia will focus on developing relations with this region in sectors where we can offer our partners quality know-how: security cooperation, fight against terrorism, confronting hybrid threats and disinformation, cyber security, strengthening the capacities of health systems, developing sustainable agriculture or increasing resistance to climate change.

Czechia also wants to deepen trade and economic cooperation with Africa. Czech exports to the region have doubled over the past 10 years, and Czech companies continue to strengthen their activities on the continent. Czechia will also support projects for the development of civil society and respect for human rights with an emphasis on the empowerment of women.

In the context of Russian aggression towards Ukraine and the need to promote a world order based on the rule of law, Czechia also wants to deepen cooperation with African partners in multilateral forums.

The government has also approved the Strategy for Cooperation with the Indo-Pacific. Ministr Lipavský said: "This is a region of crucial importance for security but also for the future international relations. There are numerous partners for Czechia in the region who share the same value system based on freedom, democracy and emphasis on human rights".

Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing region in the world, 60 per cent of global maritime trade occurs through the waters in the region. The countries of the region produce 42 per cent of world´s GDP. Czechia has taken active part in the formulation of the European Union´s strategy for cooperation with the Indo-Pacific and its implementation. In June 2022 Minister Lipavský hosted Prague High-Level Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific and held a number of meetings with the representatives of the Indo-Pacific countries. The Czech Presidency in the Council of the European Union identified Indo-Pacific as one of its geographical priorities and focused on environmental protection, space programmes and their use for disaster risk management, as well as on cyber security.