    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 19, 2003]
    [Pages 1361-1362]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Hu Jintao of China in Bangkok
    October 19, 2003

        President Bush. President Hu and I have had a very constructive
    dialog. We talked about a lot of important issues. We talked about the
    issue of trade. We talked about the need to make sure that trade is open
    and that both countries benefit from trade. I congratulated China on its
    recent space launch. I thanked the President for his work on the recent
    Security Council resolution for Iraq. We talked about our mutual desire
    to wage and win the fight against terror. We spent time, of course,
    talking about North Korea. We have a mutual goal, and that is that the
    Peninsula be free of nuclear weapons.
        I want to thank the President for leading the Beijing talks. We
    talked about how to advance the Beijing talks. We talked about how to
    advance them to achieving a mutual goal, which is a weapons-free
    Peninsula as well as addressing the security concerns of North Korea
    within the context of the six-party talks.
        So we've had a very constructive dialog, and I want to thank the
    President.
        President Hu. I just had a friendly meeting with President Bush.
    This is our second meeting in this year. I think that in itself shows
    the very sound momentum of the development of our bilateral relations.
        We discussed the questions such as the economy and trade, the terror
    question, counterterrorism, Iraq, and North Korean nuclear issue. We
    both agreed that the economic cooperation and trade between our two
    countries have benefited our two peoples tremendously, and we stated our
    readiness to resolve whatever questions that might emerge in our
    economic exchanges and trade through dialog.
        President Bush restated his Government's position of adhering to the
    ``one China'' policy, the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and his
    opposition to Taiwan independence. And we both stated our desire to
    further intensify our cooperation against the terrorism.
        About the North Korean nuclear issue, I said to the President that
    China will continue to strengthen our communication and consultations
    with various parties concerned, and we will continue to work to promote
    the Beijing six-party talks process, so as to strive for a peaceful
    resolution of this issue.
        I'm ready to work together with the President to promote further
    development of our constructive and cooperative relationship.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    [[Page 1362]]

    Note: The President spoke at 4:52 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Erawan
    Bangkok. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.