President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, on Monday 2 December 2024 delivered a speech at the University of Auckland

Distinguished faculty, dear students, honored guests,

Thank you for your warm welcome here at the University of Auckland. It is my privilege to address you today in this prestigious institution, so far from Prague yet so close in our shared values and aspirations. The distance between Czechia and New Zealand – nearly 18,000 kilometers – used to seem impossibly far. Today, that distance has been bridged not just by jet planes and digital technology, but also by the global challenges and intertwined crises, which to a large extent shape our present and future.

As we gather here in a vital gateway to the Indo-Pacific region, I would like to share our European perspective on the evolving global landscape and the critical importance of trans-regional cooperation. Together, we stood strong during World War I and II. Europe remains deeply grateful and will never forget the bravery and the sacrifice of your soldiers at Gallipoli and beyond, including Māori. Involvement of New Zealanders in both world conflicts in the first half of the 20^th century significantly contributed to weakening autocracies and shaping the path towards democracies.

This kind of profound historical alliance is one of the main reasons whyI travelled to Australia, and now to New Zealand. Our nation’s history in the 20th century has taught us that liberty must be actively defended. The days seemed to be drenched in sunlight as Czechoslovakia declared its independence in 1918. For Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak President, it was not just an expression of the principle of self-determination. He believed that Czechoslovak independence had moral implications. For him, the fight for democracy was not just a quest for political freedom, but a commitment to universal ideals.

Unfortunately, these principles did not prevent Czechoslovakia from falling victim to oppression twice during the same century. First, Czechoslovakia lost its sovereignty for five years under the German Nazi terror. After liberation, it lost its sovereignty again. This time to Soviet Union for over 40 years. The fresh wind of change came with the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Václav Havel, playwright, intellectual and political prisoner, was the leading figure in the struggle for democracy. Not only did he manage to unite people calling for freedom, but he was also crucial in reintroducing democratic principles and values. In 1995 he visited New Zealand, and I am glad that I can follow in his footsteps almost 30 years after.

Our world has changed so much since then! Back in the 90s, my country was still transforming from the planned to free market economy. Today, Czechia is a proud and active member of the EU and NATO contributing to peace and prosperity in Europe and worldwide.

Yet, we know well that democracy and freedom can never be taken for granted. Not only on the grounds of our own history but also based on recent developments. Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine came as a shock to many. However, with its imperialist and oppressive history, this should not have been a surprise. It may not be uniquely cruel or senseless compared to other conflicts, but it stands out in a crucial regard. This war carries significant global implications, with the potential to redefine the international order established after World War II. This conflict is more than about Ukraine’s borders or Europe’s security. This war is about the principles that affect us all: sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, and the right to determine our own future. While the Ukrainian people bear the greatest price for these values, the stakes are higher.

Instability in Europe has clear implications for the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific region represents not just the world’s economic and trade center of gravity, but also a crucial testing ground for democratic values in the 21st century. If violations of sovereignty and international norms in Europe receive only a lukewarm response, actors such as China or North Korea can be further encouraged to adopt more assertive or aggressive policies towards its neighbours. This would pose an even greater threat to regional and global stability.

As a member of the European Union, Czechia is deeply engaged in the region’s stability and prosperity. Our Indo-Pacific Strategy, aligned with the EU’s vision, emphasizes three key pillars: economic cooperation, security partnership, and democratic resilience.

First, let’s address economic interconnection. Czechia, as a highly industrialized economy, recognizes that our future prosperity is inseparably linked with the Indo-Pacific. Our companies are increasingly looking to New Zealand and other regional partners for collaboration in areas such as aviation, defense, artificial intelligence, space, cybersecurity, and green technologies. The EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement stands as a testament to our commitment to deepening these economic ties. According to some predictions, our bilateral trade could increase by 30 % in the near future. And I hope that both our countries will indeed benefit from it.

However, we must acknowledge that economic cooperation cannot flourish without addressing security challenges. Czechia’s experience with expansive, authoritarian regimes has made us particularly sensitive to the importance of maintaining regional stability. We are deeply concerned about repressive economic practices, cyber threats, and attempts to undermine international law in the South China Sea and beyond.

This brings me to my third point: democratic resilience. Czechia’s transition from communism to democracy offers valuable lessons about the importance of civil society, independent media, and robust democratic institutions. Today, European democracies are again under pressure. New security threats challenge our ability to protect our citizens. Economic uncertainties and the impact of technological change feed grievances. Adding to this, the spread of disinformation, often amplified through social media and fuelled by hostile powers, contribute to a more divisive environment at home. These are challenges we share. We were made painfully aware of this by the attack of a far-right radical in Christchurch in 2019. We have learned that disinformation and extremist content online contributed to the radicalisation of the perpetrator. And we saw New Zealanders’ remarkable response of solidarity and support.

Unfortunately, in a polarised world, we must prepare for our adversaries and unfortunately, even for our home grown populists, seeking to exploit frustrations and sow division within our societies. Climate change represents another critical challenge that binds our regions together. The devastating floods in Central Europe and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events as well as rising water level in the Pacific demonstrate that no nation can address this crisis alone.

Czechia is committed to green transformation, and we see a great potential for collaboration with New Zealand and other Pacific nations in renewable energy and sustainable technologies. But perhaps the most pressing lesson from recent years is the importance of supply chain resilience. The pandemic and subsequent global disruptions have shown that we must diversify our economic partnerships and – while maintaining open markets – strengthen our strategic autonomy. This is where Czechia sees tremendous opportunity for deeper engagement with New Zealand and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Let me be clear: our vision is not about creating exclusive blocs. Rather, it is about building a network of like-minded partners committed to a free, open, and inclusive international order based on mutual respect and on respect to international norms. As we look to the future, education and people-to-people ties will be crucial. That's why we are expanding our scholarship programs and academic exchanges with Indo-Pacific institutions. I am glad that New Zealand decided to join Horizon Europe research and innovations programme. This will enable both New Zealand and the EU to progress together on issues like climate, energy, mobility, digital, industry and space, health, and many more.

More than half of New Zealand’s researchers have an active collaboration with a European partner, and I hope that this number will increase in the future. Your university’s commitment to international collaboration exemplifies the kind of partnership we seek to foster. I hope that at least some of you will use the existing opportunities and come to Czechia to study. Education, research and innovations stand at the heart of our future security and prosperity and therefore cooperation and exchange programmes are crucial.

In conclusion, the challenges we face – from climate change to digital transformation, from security threats to economic resilience – demand a coordinated response that transcends geographic boundaries. Our rivals are looking for the opportunity to consolidate power and undermine the rules-based international system.

Our democracies may not always be perfect. But it is the best system we have for ensuring freedom and respect to everyone’s dignity. It gives us opportunities many people around the world are simply deprived of. To preserve our free and open society for future generations, we must invest more in cooperation. Together, we are stronger!

Thank you for your attention. Ngā mihi.

President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, University of Auckland on Monday 2 December 2024