    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 4, 2006]
    [Pages 859-860]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay
    May 4, 2006

        President Bush. Bienvenidos. It's been a distinct pleasure to
    welcome the President to the Oval Office. We've had a very extensive
    conversation about--we talked about a lot of subjects. We talked about
    the human condition. We talked about our mutual desire to improve lives
    through good education and health care. I assured the President that the
    billions of dollars of aid that we spend in the neighborhood are all
    aimed at justice and giving people a chance to realize their dreams.
        We talked about ways to make sure there's better student exchanges
    between our countries. It made a lot of sense. After all, the President
    was educated--or received some education in my home state of Texas, at
    M.D. Anderson.
        We talked about extending our commercial relations. One of the
    interesting topicsthat the President brought up was renewable energy, a
    subject that is very dear to my heart and necessary for our country. And
    finally, I shared some thoughts with the President about my deep desire
    to help countries become free, so that this world is more peaceful.
        I--in short, it was a very extensive dialog. And finally, he shared
    with me the joy of being a grandfather. Obviously, he's a good man
    because he's got such pride in his family.
        And so I welcome you here, sir. Thank you for coming.
        President Vazquez. Mr. President, thank you very much for your
    kindest attention. It's, for us, a great opportunity to speak--but I
    speak Spanish.
        President Bush. Si. [Laughter]
        President Vazquez. Y tu tambien.

    [[Page 860]]

        Thank you very much, Mr. President. I want to thank you very much
    for your welcome. This is one more show of friendship that has been a
    very deep friendship between our countries from the very beginning.
        We've had a very kind and extensive exchange of opinions with
    President Bush. First of all, we recalled the bilateral investment
    treaty that was recently signed by our two countries in which we have--
    and we have now also agreed to work to expand, intensify, and strengthen
    our trade relations. In fact, our technical people are going to be
    meeting within the framework of our joint commission in a few months in
    Montevideo, and we've agreed that we are going to be kicking off work at
    that time.
         I will not extend on the points that have--the items that have
    already been referred to by the President, but I do want to thank you
    very much.
        And to the Uruguayan people who are listening to me, I want to say
    to all of you: Without exception, without exclusions, together we will
    continue to work jointly on this path that we have undertaken in order
    to further the standard of life with our people, through education,
    through health care, through more and better jobs, and through decent
    salaries for all our people, and to truly insert Uruguay on the path of
    globalization.
        Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Gracias, senior. Gracias.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:09 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Vazquez spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.