Dear Mr President, distinguished colleagues,

ASEAN has been growing at an unprecedented pace for decades. Yet many people are still surprised that the centre of gravity of global economic development is shifting towards Asia. In reality, that centre of gravity has been in Asia for quite some time, and both our relations and the EU’s overall approach should reflect this fact.

ASEAN is a truly unique and inspiring story. It brings together diverse countries, nations and cultures, bound by geography – and to some extent by history – to build an institutional architecture that promotes stability, prosperity and growth, and, where possible, peace, while remaining realistic about its own potential and limitations.

We should strive to develop a genuine partnership of equals, in which both sides have much to offer one another. In this respect, allow me to highlight three areas where we can further strengthen our cooperation.

 

First, we believe in strengthening connectivity without bloc divisions – open, transparent and sustainable cooperation that does not require choosing between partners, but builds bridges.

The priority should be given to strengthening connectivity in all its forms – physical, in transportation, as well as digital connectivity, including cybersecurity and people-to-people contacts. In this regard, the Global Gateway represents a flagship initiative and an important framework for engagement and cooperation. The Global Gateway initiative is not about rivalry, it is about connectivity.

 

Second, we see supply chains not as a matter of replacement, but of resilience and natural complementarity. The European Union and ASEAN can jointly develop secure and diversified value chains, particularly in strategic sectors such as critical minerals and advanced industries.

The lessons learned from recent crises show that there is a need for a shift in the patterns of globalization. This shift represents an opportunity for EU–ASEAN cooperation.

 

Third, we share an interest in a pragmatic multilateralism that delivers concrete results – across trade, digitalisation, environmental protection and the transition to clean energy – by combining effective EU standards with pragmatism so typical for countries of ASEAN.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

My country, the Czech Republic, is an export-oriented economy. We remain firmly committed to open trade and to deepening EU–ASEAN cooperation, including through initiatives such as Global Gateway.

In this context, the Czech Republic is ready to contribute particularly in the field of advanced manufacturing and industrial modernization, supporting our partners in moving up global value chains.

We could speak about many other dimensions of our relationship, and it would quickly become clear just how complex and exceptional our partnership truly is.

Describing our relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership would not be an overstatement, but rather a confirmation of an existing reality.

Therefore, I sincerely hope that this ministerial meeting here in Brunei will serve as a stepping stone towards the declaration of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the EU and ASEAN next year, during the commemorative summit in Singapore marking the 50th anniversary of EU–ASEAN relations.

 

Thank you for your attention.