The meeting of ministers and ambassadors reflects the growing importance that Czechia places on the development of our mutual relations. “Czech soldiers help African partners fight violent extremists. Ethiopia and Zambia are among the priority countries of our foreign development cooperation. The volume of trade between Czechia and Africa has doubled in ten years and is comparable to that with China, and our investments on the continent are increasing,” said the minister. He highlighted the geopolitical, strategic, security, and economic significance of Africa.

It is crucial to get as much support as possible from Africa in condemning Russia's military campaign in Ukraine because Africa has an important role in forming positions in multilateral forums. “Russia is trying to impose its own distorted interpretation of the war in Ukraine and its global implications on Africa. The Czech Republic, which has its own historical experience with Soviet occupants, considers Russian aggression to be a huge threat to global security and the international order. Violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the independent state of Ukraine may encourage existing separatist tendencies in a number of African countries,” the minister warned.

Concrete Czech solutions for Africa in the fields of economic and development cooperation and humanitarian aid were presented during the meeting. Representatives of the academic sector also presented their intent to develop cooperation with their partners in Africa.