Mr. President, Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am grateful to address this distinguished audience, and I express my gratitude to the Secretary General and his team, who started one of the most important processes of our time focused on revitalizing multilateralism.

The 2030 Agenda is our common goal and road map for sustainable development. Now, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate its implementation.

The Pact for the Future creates a solid base for a better and more effective multilateral system and we stand ready to work together with other delegations on ensuring Summit’s successful follow-up.

In order to find the right way forward, we need to know and understand the challenges that threaten our future.

Let me clearly state that the Russian aggression, the aggression by a country that is a permanent member of the Security Council, against sovereign Ukraine represents a singular challenge shaking the very core of the international system and the fundamental principles of the United Nations.

But addressing one challenge does not diminish the urgency of others. We are aware of the suffering caused by wars and conflicts, of the life-threatening disasters aggravated by climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, the slow progress in achieving sustainable development or pervasive violations and abuses of human rights.

These challenges are connected. No country is immune to them and no country can address them on their own.

Let me now highlight specifically two points.

Firstly, I welcome the Global Digital Compact.

It outlines a common vision and intent to promote realistic international cooperation in the context of digital technologies worldwide and presents a joint understanding of some core principles. Czechia will play an active role.

Digital transformation cannot serve to the benefit of every individual without human-centric and human-rights based approach to the challenges that are ahead.

The potential of today’s emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or biotech is enormous. They will surely contribute to finding solutions to many of today’s challenges. At the same time, greater technological dependence creates greater vulnerabilities.

Therefore, I recently co-sponsored the launch of a Prague GeoTech Summit to be held every year at the Globsec Forum. Its aim is to foster dialogue between business, academia and government to contribute to our shared understanding of how to handle technology safely on a daily basis and protect ourselves against its misuse by the malign actors, being it individuals, groups or states.

My second point concerns Climate Change.

The current climate crisis and its far-reaching implications must be addressed in a comprehensive and integrated way through enhanced and effective multilateralism.

The recent floods in Central Europe, probably worst in decades, are a clear reminder of the growing threat of climate-induced weather events.

Czechia will continue to advocate for a stronger global response. Addressing climate change is more than one of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. It is a threat multiplier with the potential to worsen some of humanity's greatest challenges, such as poverty, hunger, or health. We are ready to work with all international partners to ensure successful outcome of the next UN Climate Conference to be held in November in Baku.

Through our bilateral and multilateral development assistance, we implement a wide range of climate-related projects to help partner countries to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The outcomes of the Summit of the Future will only become effective if we fully implement them. And our work begins at home.

The Czech historical experience with transition from an authoritarian to a democratic state, from a centrally planned to a market economy, taught us many lessons. Ever since then, we have been striving to build upon the benefits of participatory decision making, particularly youth engagement, rule of law and accountable institutions as catalysts for sustainable future for all. The work never finishes.

To end with, I wish to confirm that Czechia joins others in demanding a tangible reform of the UN system. Czechia will also continue to pay its regular budget contributions to the UN in full and on time and urge others to meet their financial obligations as well.

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel at the Summit for the Future, 23rd September 2024