[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[February 5, 2001]
[Pages 55-56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Jean
Chretien of Canada and an Exchange With
Reporters
February 5, 2001
President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of our
closest friend to the White House. This is the first visitor I have
received since I've been the President. We've just had a very good
visit. We talked about a lot of subjects, and I confirmed to the Prime
Minister that America appreciates our friendship, appreciates our
trading partner. We share a long border, and it's been a peaceful
border.
I assured him that we will consult and keep him abreast of decisions
that we make here that will affect Canada and peace in the world. And I
look forward to not only reaffirming our friendship with the country; I
look forward to developing a friendship with this good man right here.
So it's an honor to welcome you here, sir.
Prime Minister Chretien. Thank you very much, Mr. President. For me,
it's a great pleasure to be the first foreign leader to come and visit
with you. But we feel it's a kind of a cousin coming to visit, because
you know, we are two neighbors for so long, 4,000 miles of border, with
no problems, big problems. Whenever they were our problems, we can talk,
consult, and try to find an acceptable solution.
So I can tell the press that it was a very friendly meeting and a
very productive meeting. We covered a lot of areas and look forward for
a very good period with President Bush. On behalf of the Canadians, I
want to wish you the best luck in your job. You're at the beginning, and
I know that you will be successful. And when you need us, we'll be
there, and we hope that when we need you, you will be there.
President Bush. Thank you, sir.
Prime Minister Chretien. Mr. President, if you will allow me in
French, now, we had a very good meeting. This is the first time that I
had a state visit--President Bush. We talked about many, many issues. We
talked about our bilateral relations. We talked about other leaders and
other people, and I think that the beginning of our personal
relationship is a very good one.
Canada-U.S. Relations
Q. Mr. President, what issue do you think will be the one that will
be the biggest test of the leadership in the next 6 months?
President Bush. For me as the President, in regards to Canada?
Q. Yes.
President Bush. Convincing Congress to promote free trade throughout
our hemisphere. A free trading hemisphere is going to benefit Canada and
will benefit the United States, and we've got a lot of work to do--for
me to do--to get fast-track negotiating authority.
We're going to have a summit in Quebec, and I'm looking forward to
being hosted by the Prime Minister, here, and the whole notion is to
promote free trade and open markets around the hemisphere.
[[Page 56]]
Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Q. Mr. President, there is an impression that you might prefer
Mexico over Canada. Do you have a preference for either country?
President Bush. I've got a preference for friends. And the Canadians
are longstanding friends of the United States. Mexico is an important
country, as well, and I look forward to a meeting with President
Fox in a couple of weeks. My preference is for
friendly relations in our hemisphere.
I want the people of my country to understand that a foreign policy
priority of my administration will be this hemisphere. And it's so
important for the United States not to neglect the hemisphere. My first
meeting is with the Prime Minister. Shortly thereafter, I'll be meeting
with the President of Mexico. And we have great
opportunities in this hemisphere to spread prosperity throughout. And
it's going to be to our nations' mutual benefit when that happens.
2000 Presidential Election
Q. Mr. President, what did you think of the Prime Minister's
comments and those by the former Ambassador here last year that left the
impression Canada might have felt it would have been easier to work with
Al Gore than with you?
President Bush. I didn't pay attention to it, if he said that. I'm
going to prove him wrong. But as for our discussions today, I didn't
have any impression whatsoever that the Prime Minister came with any
preconceived notion except one thing, that I will promote friendly
relations with Canada.
Canada-U.S. Relations
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, considering your good relations that you had
with President Clinton plus what you said in 1993 about relations with
President Bush--first President Bush and then-Prime Minister Mulroney,
how do you expect your relations with President George W. Bush to be?
Prime Minister Chretien. Our relations will be very good. President
Bush is the President of the United States; I'm the Prime Minister of
Canada. We have common interests; we'll have different interests. And as
we said before, it's very good to have these relations, and it's very
good that Canada be seen as an independent country.
President Bush. Hold on. I've got a very important answer to give.
The question was fishing. [Laughter] We talked about fishing, and I
would hope someday to be able to go catch small-mouthed bass on the
Prime Minister's--as he called it, the equivalent of Camp David. I could
use a few techniques when it comes to fishing for small-mouthed bass.
And one day, if all works out well, he can come down and catch large-
mouthed bass on my ranch. [Laughter]
Q. Golf? Any plans to play golf together?
President Bush. If he gives me enough strokes. [Laughter]
Note: The President spoke at 7:15 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vicente Fox of Mexico. A
reporter referred to former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney of Canada.
After the Prime Minister's opening remarks, he spoke in French, and his
remarks were translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available for
verification of the content of these remarks.