    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 16, 2007]
    [Pages 155-156]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Martin Torrijos
    Espino of Panama
    February 16, 2007

        President Bush. Senor Presidente, bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca. I'm
    glad you're here.
        President Torrijos Espino. Thank you, President.
        President Bush. I always enjoy my discussions with you. You're a
    visionary leader

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    who cares deeply about the people of Panama.
        I can remember very fondly my visit to your country. I remember
    going to the Panama Canal, and I was impressed by the operations,
    impressed by the scope of the Canal. And you told me that, for the good
    of the world, ``We're going to build an adjunct to the Canal.'' And I
    said, ``Well, that's an ambitious agenda.'' And then, sure enough, as
    you sit here now, you tell me it's going to come to be. So I
    congratulate you on having a vision, and I congratulate you on being a
    leader.
        I'm impressed by the economic statistics that we talked about. You
    told me that you care deeply about your people and you want them
    working, and they're working. The unemployment rate is down. Commerce is
    beginning to expand. And that's positive news for Panama, it's positive
    news for Central America, and it's also good news for us in America.
        I appreciate so very much your desire to work out any differences we
    have on a free trade agreement. I am committed to a Panamanian free
    trade agreement because I believe it's in the interest of the United
    States that we have a free trade agreement with your vital country. And
    I assure you that we'll work in good faith to get an agreement done, and
    I will call upon the United States Congress, both Republicans and
    Democrats, to support this deal that will help both nations.
        We had an interesting discussion about biofuels. I reminded the
    President that I said in the State of the Union Address that the United
    States is committed to having about 35 billion gallons of alternative
    fuels as a part of our fuel mix within a 10-year period of time.
    Biofuels means ethanol, or biofuels means fuel derived from palm.
        It just so happens, Panama has got the capacity to make a lot of
    biofuels. And I believe your capacity to make biofuels and our desire to
    use biofuels will make an interesting match as we work to become less
    dependent on oil and better stewards of the environment.
        And so I appreciate so very much your vision on that issue as well.
    I'm looking forward to working with you. And once again, bienvenidos
    aqui.
        President Torrijos Espino. Gracias, Presidente. Thank you.
        I'm very pleased and recognize your commitment for pushing the free
    trade agenda and trying to finish the free trade agreement with Panama
    and the rest of the Latin American countries. And also, I'm very
    satisfied to know that Latin America is still a very important part of
    your international agenda, with your trip that's coming next, and of
    course, all the cooperation that we can have in research of biofuels
    will help all of our countries be less dependent on oil, have more
    opportunity for our economies to grow.
        So it's been, as always, a very sincere and a very fruitful meeting
    with you, President.
        President Bush. Gracias, amigo. Gracias.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:50 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.