    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 6, 2005]
    [Pages 1656-1661]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Luiz Inacio Lula da
    Silva of Brazil in Brasilia
    November 6, 2005

        President Lula da Silva. Your Excellency, George Bush, President of
    the United States of America, and Mrs. Laura Bush; my dear wife, Marisa
    Leticia Lula da Silva; ladies and gentlemen; members of the delegations
    of the U.S. and of Brazil; the journalists from Brazil and journalists
    from the U.S. and journalists from other countries who are also here:
    The presence of President Bush here with us expresses to a very high
    degree the intensification of the dialogs between our governments.
        In December 2002, before I took office, President Bush was kind
    enough to receive

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    me at the White House. In June 2003, I was with him once again in an
    important working meeting in Washington. We had several meetings also at
    international meetings during these almost 3 years that I've been in
    government. We have exchanged letters, and we have--we've spoke several
    times over the phone. Today's visit is a privileged opportunity for us
    to discuss many issues in our bilateral relations, as well as regional
    and global issues around which we can work together.
        I wish to express publicly a few considerations on relations between
    the U.S. and Brazil in the more general framework of our foreign policy.
    I have often said that our foreign policy is not just a way of
    projecting Brazil into the rest of the world; it is also a fundamental
    element for our nation's project of development.
        During these 34 months of my administration, we have worked very
    hard to come closer to our South American brothers. We have intensified
    bilateral relations with all countries in the region. We have expanded
    and strengthened the MERCOSUR. We have created the South American
    Community of Nations. We have maintained excellent relations with the
    countries of the Caribbean as well as Central and North America. We have
    pushed for very active policies in Africa, a continent I have visited
    several times and been to 14 countries. We are the--our country has the
    second largest black population in the world, and we have a historical
    debt to the African Continent.
        Brazil has also opened up to the Arab world, the main result of that
    opening being the summit between South America and Arab countries. We
    strengthened our relations with major emerging countries such as China,
    India, Russia, Korea, and South Africa.
        We have not stopped opening new frontiers. The results of that
    opening have been unprecedented growth in our foreign trade, the
    attraction of new investments, and the internationalization of our own
    companies. But that quest for new horizons has not compromised our
    relationships with major developed countries such as the European Union,
    Japan, and obviously, the United States of America.
        When I was elected President, there were those who foresaw the
    deterioration of relations between Brazil and the U.S. They were roundly
    mistaken. On the contrary, our relations today are going through one of
    their best moments ever. Economic and trade relations have expanded very
    much, and our political dialog has gained a much higher quality. We, the
    United States and Brazil, understand our economic and political
    importance as well as the responsibilities they imply. We defend our
    national interests and our general political values. Our self-respect
    strengthens our mutual respect. When each country values its own
    sovereignty, we are able to respect the sovereignty of other countries
    as well.
        The understandable differences and points of view on issues of the
    regional or global agendas have been discussed frankly, with no
    surprises or confrontations. I wish to recognize how President Bush, his
    Secretary of State, and other top officials of the U.S. administration
    have contributed to making this environment of cordial relations become
    even better.
        Mr. President, our peoples share common outlooks on absolutely
    fundamental issues, such as the defense of democracy, the spread of
    freedom, and respect for human rights. We have had dialog on crucial
    themes for two nations that are committed to the challenges of peace and
    of globalization. International security, development aid, the balance
    of trade rules, and the reform of the multilateral system in the United
    Nations, in particular, have been at the core of our conversations. We
    have been known how to emphasize our affinities. We are two major,
    multiethnic democracies, with the vocations for cooperating in promoting
    full citizenship and fighting all forms of discrimination.
        The presence of a large Brazilian community in the U.S. enriches the
    tradition

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    of mutual contact and the admiration between our societies. Good dialog
    between our immigration authorities will be fundamental for guaranteeing
    fair and balanced treatment for those who are the true bridges between
    our countries.
        We also spoke very much about what we could do to promote the
    progress and well-being of other countries. We are working hard in favor
    of development, particularly in Africa. In Haiti, where Brazil is
    heading the U.N. stabilization mission, we have collaborated in
    emergency programs in the areas of health and basic sanitation. We are
    involved in achieving the full success of national elections that will
    open the way to normality, in political terms, and the return to
    economic and social development for Haiti. And we are involved--it is
    also important that the economic aid that's been promised to Haiti
    arrive quickly.
        President Bush and I have the same optimistic vision on our
    bilateral relations. There have been many advances following our first
    meeting in 2003. The working groups that we created on growth,
    agriculture, and energy have brought significant results. And we have
    now decided to advance in other strategic fields. We will begin high-
    level cooperation in science and technology and intensify our
    educational partnerships in areas such as biodiversity and agriculture.
    In the area of health, we will be opening up new fronts for cooperation
    to fight diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, and threats such
    as the avian flu pandemic.
        Our partnership is grounded on solid economic basis. The United
    States are the largest individual partner of Brazil as the largest
    market for our exports and our main source of direct overseas
    investment. Our exchange has grown at rates of 7 percent per year. In
    2004 alone, we received $4 billion in investments from the United
    States.
        We carry on tranquil and mature discussions on specific issues that
    always come up as part of any partnership on this scale--on a scale like
    this. We are working to negotiate the removal of unjustified barriers to
    our bilateral trade, and we are working in the same spirit to achieve
    multilateral economic and trade discussions.
        The successful conclusion of the Doha round by the end of 2006 is a
    priority for the United States as much as it is for Brazil. We agree
    that the reduction, with a view to the elimination of agricultural
    subsidies, will be a key to balance in that round. I thank President
    Bush for his words of support for Brazil's determination to contribute
    to development and stability in our region.
        It is for all of these reasons that we are very glad to see the U.S.
    willingness to include Brazil amongst those countries with whom Brazil--
    the United States has a strategic and privileged dialog. President Bush,
    what we leave for history is more than our immediate decisions. What
    really matters are those initiatives that take into account future
    generations as well as the need for us to face and overcome the major
    challenges of our time. Brazilian foreign policy transcends governments.
        At the same time we defend our national interest, we pursue major
    democratic values in the international sphere. In that sense, I once
    again insist that U.S.-Brazil relations are fundamental, and their
    improvement is a legacy that we should leave to those who will come
    after us.
        Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much. Laura and I are really pleased to be here on our first visit
    to Brazil. My only regret is that I'm not able to travel around a lot of
    your country to see the vast beauty of Brazil. It's a spectacular part
    of the world, and I want to thank you for your invitation to come here.
    The President promised to take me fishing--of course, he said, after I'm
    President. The entourage is a little big to go fishing while I'm
    President.
        But Mr. President, Laura and I appreciate the
    hospitality that you and Mrs.

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    Marisa have shown us. We're
    also looking forward to good old-fashioned Brazilian barbecue. It will
    remind me of home.
        We--let me start off by saying that the President is right:
    Relations between Brazil and the United States are essential, and they
    are strong. We've had many constructive discussions. I remember the
    first time you came to the Oval Office, and I was most impressed by your
    strong commitment to your program of Zero Hunger. It struck me as not
    only sincere but reflecting your deep compassion for the people. And
    since then, we've had the capacity to sit down and talk about issues
    that are important for not only our respective countries but the world.
    And I want to thank you for that frank and open relationship.
        Brazil and America are interesting places, obviously, but one thing
    we have in common is that we are a country--two countries that are able
    to deal with our diversity in such a way as to strengthen our nation.
    Brazil is a very diverse country, as is America, and it's those common
    values that we both adhere to that make it feasible for people from
    different backgrounds to live in peace and harmony. And we discussed
    those values, the President and I did. He's a man who believes strongly
    in democracy, as do I, and rule of law and the right of free speech and
    the right to a free press and free religion. And I want to thank you for
    your strong belief and your willingness to stand strong on those
    principles.
        We're the two largest democracies in the world [Western World].*
    Therefore, we have obligations to work together to promote peace and
    prosperity. We started what's called the Group for Growth, to find ways
    to develop economic possibilities and potential in our respective
    countries. I must say, Mr. President, I'm impressed by the economic
    reforms you've put in place, by the achievements you had made through
    good government policy to encourage growth, not only here at home but to
    encourage exports.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
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        We're encouraged by the increase of bilateral trade between our
    countries. I met with some businesspeople earlier today, and they were
    talking about how important our markets are to each other and that trade
    is an important way for people to be able to find work in our countries.
    And good trade is trade where people benefit on both sides of the issue,
    that it must be equitable, it must be fair, and I'm convinced that's the
    trade relationship we have on a bilateral basis.
        I know you're concerned about creating jobs, and your country has
    done a very good job of doing so, while keeping inflation down. And I
    appreciate your understanding that free trade and fair trade is the way
    to help the citizens of your country. We can have free and fair trade
    without losing national identity. We can have free or fair trade without
    penalizing local small businesses and entrepreneurs. And the President
    is working hard to make sure that the trade opportunities available to
    the citizens of Brazil are done in such a way that there's a spirit of--
    there's an equitable spirit involved. And I want to thank you for your
    leadership on that.
        We've got some opportunities to continue to expand trade. I firmly
    believe that if one wants to eliminate poverty around the world, the
    best way to do so is to advance the Doha round of the WTO. Now, the
    President has made it very clear that it's difficult to get a Doha round
    going so long as there are countries that refuse to yield on
    agricultural matters, and I heard that loud and clear. And so recently,
    I made a statement, or a series of statements, that said the United
    States will reduce subsidies and tariffs, so long as we get the same
    treatment from trading partners such as Europe. In other words, I just--
    if we lower the subsidies, we would very much like to be able to tell
    our farmers the same thing the President wants to tell his farmers, that
    there's access to markets. And so

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    we made a very strong statement toward advancing the Doha round, the
    WTO. We've declared our intention, and I told the President I was very
    serious in that declaration.
        And we agreed to work together to advance the round. It's in the
    workers of Brazil's interest that WTO advance. This is a vast country
    with great resources and a workforce that's hardworking, and the more
    products that Brazilians can manufacture and sell overseas, the better--
    more likely it is people will be able to find work. And so one of the
    interesting things that has come out of this meeting is a renewed
    commitment to working together to eliminate poverty by creating
    opportunity through international trade that's fair, that's fair for the
    people of Brazil and fair for the people of America.
        And along those lines, we continued our discussions that was taking
    place in Argentina. There is an opportunity to advance trade, and we
    agreed to speak about that and how best to work together, for example,
    to be able to compete with countries like China or India. It's in our
    interests that we work together on a trade agenda. I call it the Free
    Trade Agreement of the Americas; I think you refer to it as ALCA. And
    the President said, ``Look, let's work together on Doha and see how that
    goes, and we'll continue to working on the Free Trade Agreement of the
    Americas.''
        It's important for the people of Brazil to understand that such an
    agreement will not be done if the President thinks this isn't in the
    interests of the people. I've got to--he's got to be convinced, just
    like the people of America must be convinced, that a trade arrangement
    in our hemisphere is good for jobs, its good for the quality of life.
    And so I look forward to continue to work on international matters and
    regional matters as well as bilateral matters, Mr. President.
        I want to thank you for your leadership around the world and in the
    hemisphere. I want to thank you very much for your commitment to Haiti.
    There's elections coming up soon, and the Brazilian presence there has
    made it more likely those elections will go forward in a free and fair
    way. You're a--you've taken a responsible position, and I hope your
    country is proud of the fact that you've seized this moment.
        I want to thank you as well for working on HIV/AIDS with the United
    States. Like you, we share a deep commitment to help those who suffer
    from this pandemic. And like you, we do more than talk; we act. And as a
    result of our combined efforts, hundreds of thousands of people are
    getting antiretroviral drugs, and that's important, and I want to thank
    you for that.
        One of the things that I appreciate about the President is he fully
    understands that narcotrafficking and terrorism can disrupt the
    democratic way of life. And Brazil has been strong--strong in working
    with other countries to prevent a few criminals or thugs from disrupting
    our way of life, and done so with constitutional guarantees in mind. We
    always keep human rights in the forefront of our policy. But we also
    know that we must work together to prevent those who would murder the
    innocent or those who would pollute the bodies of our young from being
    able to do so. And I want to thank you again for your leadership on
    that.
        This has been a constructive trip, constructive because, Mr.
    President, I enjoy working with you, constructive because you're frank
    in our discussions, and constructive because together we can do some
    good for not only our own people but for the world. Thank you very much,
    sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:22 p.m. at the Granja do Torto. In his
    remarks, he referred to Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva, wife of President
    Lula da Silva. President Lula da Silva spoke in Portuguese, and his
    remarks were translated by an interpreter. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.

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