[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[June 29, 2006]
[Pages 1231-1233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Welcoming Ceremony for Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi of Japan
June 29, 2006

    President Bush. Good morning. Laura and I are 
welcome--are proud to welcome and honored to welcome our friend Prime 
Minister Koizumi back to the White House. Japan and the United States 
have built a strong alliance and a close friendship. Decades ago, our 
two fathers looked across the Pacific and 
saw adversaries, uncertainty, and war. Today, their sons look across 
that same ocean and see friends and opportunity and peace.
    The friendship between our two nations is based on common values. 
These values include democracy, free enterprise, and a deep and abiding 
respect for human rights. These values have created a better life for 
both our peoples, a firm alliance between our two nations, and a common 
approach to our engagement with the world.
    These values are under attack by terrorist networks that bring death 
and destruction to all who oppose their hateful ideology, so the United 
States and Japan are working together to defend our shared values and 
win the war on terror.
    Japanese naval vessels have refueled hundreds of coalition ships as 
part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Japan is now the third largest donor 
nation for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. In Iraq, Japanese 
Self-Defense Forces have helped improve the lives of citizens in a key 
Iraqi Province that will soon return to Iraqi control. And Japan 
continues to provide critical airlift support to coalition forces in 
Iraq. The people of Japan can be proud of the contribution their Self-
Defense Forces have made in the war on terror, and Americans are proud 
to serve alongside such courageous allies.
    Japan and the United States are cooperating to address other threats 
to our security. Our two nations are working together through the six-
party talks, insisting that North Korea meet its pledge to abandon all 
nuclear weapons and its existing nuclear programs. Japan and the United 
States are

[[Page 1232]]

also founding members of the Proliferation Security Initiative that is 
working to keep dangerous weapons from rogue states and terrorist 
groups. And our two nations are repositioning our forces to counter the 
emerging threats of the 21st century.
    As we meet threats to our security, we're also working together to 
improve the lives of our people and address common challenges. Our two 
economies are the largest in the world, and we are working to expand 
trade and investment opportunities for both our peoples. Japan and the 
United States are working together for a successful conclusion to the 
Doha negotiations, which would add to the prosperity of our nations and 
help lift millions in the developing world out of poverty.
    With prosperity comes responsibility. So our two nations helped 
build the Asian-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, so 
we can make the latest energy technologies more widely available, reduce 
pollution, and increase energy efficiency.
    Americans cherish our friendship with the Japanese people and value 
our alliance with the nation of Japan. And we honor the leadership of 
Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi. He's a man of vision; he's a man of 
integrity. And I'm proud to call him my friend. I thank the Prime 
Minister for coming to the White House. And I'm looking forward to 
joining him tomorrow at Graceland. [Laughter] Officially, he's here to 
see the President, but I know the highlight of his visit will be paying 
his respects to ``the King.'' [Laughter]
    Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your leadership, and welcome back 
to America.
    Prime Minister Koizumi. Good morning.
    Audience Member. Good morning.
    Prime Minister Koizumi. Our Japan children very good. [Laughter] You 
can learn both Japanese and English. In the future, it's useful to you 
all.
First of all, allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to President 
Bush, the Government, and the people of the United States for putting on 
such a splendid welcome ceremony for me.
    In Japan, I am known as ``Lucky Man.'' And I feel that I am lucky in 
the United States as well. Look at this fine weather; I feel that this 
weather is also welcoming me.
    I believe it is no exaggeration to say that over the past 5 years, 
there has been no world leader, alongside Mr. Bush--President Bush, 
among the world leaders with whom I have felt so much heart to heart, 
felt so deep a friendship and trust, and have cooperated with.
    And I believe having personal and good relations between the two 
leaders is good not just for the two friends, the two of us. From now 
on, I'll engage in the discussions with President Bush on--as Japan and 
the United States are allies on various matters, not simply of bilateral 
relations but on the questions of how best we, our two countries, could 
cooperate together as allies in addressing various international issues.
    I sincerely hope that my visit this time will enable our two 
countries to continue to cooperate and develop together and, as allies 
in the international community, make even greater contributions to the 
numerous challenges in the world community.
    And in concluding, I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for 
further prosperity of the Government and the people of the United States 
of America.
    Thank you again. Such a wonderful hospitality. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:11 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House, where Prime Minister Koizumi was accorded a formal welcome with 
full military honors. Prime Minister Koizumi spoke partly in Japanese, 
and those portions of his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

[[Page 1233]]