    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [July 7, 2005]
    [Pages 1196-1199]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and an Exchange With Reporters in
    Auchterarder, Scotland
    July 7, 2005

        Prime Minister Blair. Good morning, everyone. First of all, can I
    say a warm welcome to the President of the United States here at the G-8
    summit. And I hope and believe we'll have a good and productive couple
    of days. You know the issues that are there--Africa and climate change--
    and I hope and believe we can make good progress on both of them.
        We've had a good discussion this morning, and the commitments that
    we've entered into over the past period of time on Africa, as you know,
    has--through the focus of the G-8, I think has meant that we are in a
    position where I hope, very much, we can meet the reasonable
    expectations of many millions of people outside.
        And on climate change, obviously, we've been discussing the issue
    and whether it's going to be possible to move into a different position
    on this issue in the future, where the world can come together. I
    certainly hope so.
        Obviously, again, we discussed the broad range of issues too, the
    issue of Iraq and Iran, the broader Middle East, and so on--the normal
    range of issues you'd expect.
        So I think that's all I really need to say by way of opening. The
    President will say a few words. And then we just--I've got the President
    of China coming shortly that I have to go and greet. And we'll take a
    question from the British and a question from the Americans, if that's
    okay.
        Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you, Tony. It's a beautiful day for a bike
    ride. [Laughter] So was yesterday, I thought. But thank you for your
    leadership. This is going to be a successful summit.
        The reason why is, is that the Prime Minister set very important
    goals for the industrialized world to meet, one of which is to help
    impoverished people on the continent of Africa. I'm proud of my Nation's
    contribution toward meeting that goal. I think the world, when they take
    a good look at what we've achieved here, will say that all of us are
    living up to the admonition that to whom much is given, much is
    required.
        I bring some specific projects to the table. One is to do something
    about malaria on the continent of Africa. Another is to educate young
    girls on the continent of Africa. Another is to help battered women on
    the continent of Africa as well as our broader initiatives of trade and
    HIV/AIDS initiative.
        Speaking about trade, I think it's very important for the world to
    hear very clearly the position of the United States, and that is that we
    want to work with the EU to rid our respective countries of agricultural
    subsidies. The best place to do that is at the Doha round. I would hope
    that by 2010, that the Doha round will achieve that objective.
        Secondly, the Prime Minister has put global climate change on the
    table. This is an important issue. It's an issue that we--where there's
    been disagreement in the past. But I think if people, again, look at
    what the Prime Minister, through his leadership, has achieved, there is
    a consensus that we need to move forward together.
        The way to move forward together is to recognize, one, there's a
    problem, which I have--since I've been the President, and two, that
    there is a constructive way to deal with the problem. The most
    constructive way to deal with the problem from our perspective is, one,
    to not only include

    [[Page 1197]]

    the United States in discussions but also include developing countries
    in discussions, countries like India and China.
        So you made a wise move, Mr. Prime Minister, to have invited India
    and China to this conference, where we will discuss our economic growth
    potential, coupled with the need to be wise stewards of the environment.
        Secondly, this is a great opportunity to discuss the need to share
    technologies. We're spending over $20 billion a year on the issue of
    global warming and on the issue of how to diversify ourselves away from
    a hydrocarbon-based economy, so that we can not only have economic
    security and better national security but also so we can deal with this
    important issue. And I look forward to the discussions we're going to
    have on this important topic.
        As the Prime Minister said, we also talked about the freedom agenda.
    One of the interesting discussions we're going to have this afternoon is
    progress being made between the Palestinians and Israelis. And I believe
    Jim Wolfensohn is coming, who is
    representing not only the United States but also members of the EU, to
    discuss a way forward. And I look forward to having that discussion and
    look forward to concrete ways that we all can contribute to this very
    important process.
        All and all, Mr. Prime Minister, you've done a fine job. Thanks for
    having us. You picked a beautiful location, and of course, you've
    painted a beautiful day for us.
        Thank you.
        Prime Minister Blair. Thank you very much. Okay, Tom [Tom Raum,
    Associated Press]--one UK, then one----

    Climate Change

        Q. Mr. President, could I ask you about climate change? First of
    all, have you in any way changed your own view about this? And do you
    regard emissions targets as now off the table in terms of resolving this
    problem?
        President Bush. I think if you look at a speech I gave in the Rose
    Garden there at the White House, I believe it was in the year 2001, I
    recognized that greenhouse gases were an issue and that we must deal
    with it. I also strongly believe that technologies and the proper use of
    technologies will enable the world to grow our economies and, at the
    same time, be wiser about how we protect the environment.
        I said that based upon scientific evidence, the goal of the United
    States is to reduce, neutralize--neutralize and then reduce emissions of
    greenhouse gases over time. And so my position has been pretty steady.
    What I didn't agree to was a way forward that, one, would have
    endangered our economy, and a way forward that excluded developing
    nations. I think there's a better way.
        And the reason I'm appreciative of the Prime Minister for putting
    this on the--putting this issue on the agenda is that we're now
    developing the better way forward. And the United States is more than
    happy to participate----
        Q. ----including in targets, emissions targets----
        President Bush. We believe there's a better way than--actually, I've
    set targets. The targets I've set are based upon efficiency standards
    that we would reduce greenhouse gases by 18 percent, relative to our
    economic growth. And we're meeting those targets.
        But the former construct just didn't work for us. And I fully
    recognize that by making that point, it was not a popular position in
    parts of the world. Now is the time to get beyond the Kyoto period and
    develop a strategy forward that is inclusive not only of the United
    States but of the developing nations and, of course, nations like Great
    Britain.
        And so the Prime Minister did the world a service by putting this on
    the agenda, and it's a chance to talk constructively and positively
    about what is possible. For example, for the United States to--for our
    own

    [[Page 1198]]

    economic security and national security, we have got to become less
    dependent on hydrocarbons. And the best way to do that is to develop new
    ways to power our automobiles through a--and so I've laid out a hydrogen
    initiative in which we're going to spend over a billion dollars to
    develop research necessary to help foster new ways to power
    automobiles--by the way, which will have an enormous effect on the
    future state of the environment.
        So here's a way, for example, for us to work together. And it's--
    Great Britain can be a great part of the hydrogen initiative, and I
    think the Prime Minister wants to be. Japan, of course, will play a
    leading role in the hydrogen initiative, and Prime Minister
    Koizumi is at the table. Germany should
    play a great role. In other words, there's an opportunity for those of
    us who have got the capacity to spend research dollars to share
    information. As I told you, we're spending over $20 billion a year to be
    better stewards of the environment and, at the same time, make sure that
    in the out years, we can grow our economy in a reasonable way.
        Sorry, go ahead.
        Prime Minister Blair. I was just going to come in here and say, I
    think you've got to understand what we're trying to do here. And I think
    people do, but it's just worth me saying this: There's no point in going
    back over the Kyoto debate. My country has got its position on Kyoto, as
    have others; America has got its position on Kyoto. That is an argument
    that there has been, and we can't resolve that, and we're not going to
    negotiate some new treaty on climate change at the G-8 summit. That's
    not what it's about.
        What it is about is seeing whether it will be possible in the future
    to bring people back into consensus together, not just America and
    Europe and Japan but also America, Europe, Japan, and the emerging
    economies like China, like India, who in the future, are going to be the
    major consumers of energy.
        Now, can we do that? I don't know. But it's important that we at
    least begin a process of dialog that allows us to make progress on it.
    And as you've just heard, it's not that America is saying, ``Well, we
    don't care about this issue.'' The investment in research and
    development into clean technologies is probably greater in America than
    any other country in the world. The question is, can we, as we go
    forward, create the conditions in which, when Kyoto ends, which it does
    in 2012, it's possible for the world to move into consensus? And if it
    isn't possible, then we've got a real problem for the future.
        So it's important we set out the ambitions for this summit in a
    measured way. We're not going to resolve every single issue at the G-8
    summit in relation to this, but I think what we can do is narrow the
    issues down, get agreement that there is a problem, that we need to
    tackle it, that we need to move forward together in doing so, and then
    give ourselves the pathways--I said to you guys yesterday--give
    ourselves the pathway into a process that will allow us, post-Kyoto, to
    get back into agreement.
        And that's--and no disrespect to anyone's position on the existing
    Kyoto treaty. Everyone has got their positions on that, and that's not
    going to change. There's no point in thinking that's going to change,
    but the future is crucial.
        President Bush. I'm trying to recover from my faux pas yesterday. I
    made a terrible mistake yesterday. Toby [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters]--
    [laughter]--listen, I don't want to revisit--I don't----
        Prime Minister Blair. That's an intro for the American media.
    [Laughter]
        President Bush. I don't want to revisit the mistake. Let's just say,
    slightly offensive--wrong gender when I called on her.

    Proposed Unocal Corporation Purchase

        Q. Mr. President, how can the United States, on one hand, urge China
    to play by the rules of the global economy and move toward a flexible
    currency and, on

    [[Page 1199]]

    the other hand, efforts by Chinese companies like CNOOC to expand seem
    to be running into some roadblocks?
        President Bush. Well, what she's referring to is the fact that a
    Chinese oil company that's owned by the Government is attempting to
    purchase U.S. assets. And there's been some concern expressed by Members
    of the Congress in the form of a resolution that said that we are
    concerned about economic security--and national security for that
    matter--when it comes to a state-owned company purchasing private
    assets.
        There is a process that our Government uses to analyze such
    purchases--or intent to purchase. And it's best that I allow that
    process to move forward without comment.
        Thank you.
        Prime Minister Blair. Okay, thanks very much, guys. See you later.

    President's Bike Accident

        Q. How are you?
        President Bush. Feeling good, yes. Great. Ready to go for another
    ride.
        Q. Did you hurt yourself badly?
        President Bush. No. Talked to the policeman last night. He's doing
    fine. I'm less worried about myself and more worried about him. It just
    goes to show that I should act my age. [Laughter]
        Q. Were you wearing a helmet when you crashed?
        President Bush. Absolutely.
        Q. Did you crash into his bike? Is that what happened?
        President Bush. No, no, he was standing. I hit slick pavement. I
    was--we were flying coming in. And by the way, when you ride hard on a
    mountain bike, sometimes you fall. Otherwise, you're not riding hard.
    And it was at the end of a good hour ride. The pavement was slick, and
    the bike came out from underneath me--just like that--just like that
    person on the Tour de France the other day.
    He's a lot better bike rider than I am, but--[laughter]--that other
    American.
        Q. It's something to do when you retire----
        President Bush. I don't think so. I think I'm--I think I found my
    limitations. But, I can't--for those of you who like to mountain bike, I
    would strongly suggest getting out in this beautiful countryside. It is
    a spectacular part of the world. Just be careful on the finish.
    [Laughter]

    Note: The President spoke at 8:39 a.m. at the Gleneagles Hotel. In his
    remarks, he referred to James D. Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for
    Gaza Disengagement; and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan. Prime
    Minister Blair referred to President Hu Jintao of China.