    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 28, 2008]
    [Page 587]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With United States-Brazil CEO Forum Officials
    April 28, 2008

        It is my honor to welcome the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum here to
    Washington. First of all, I want to thank my friend President Lula for encouraging this forum to go
    forward. It's an indication of the importance that we both place on our
    bilateral relations. Brazil is a very powerful, very important country
    in our neighborhood. And it's really important for this administration
    and future administrations to work closely with the Brazilian
    Government, like it is important for our respective business communities
    to work closely together.
        I do want to thank you all very much for putting forward a list of
    recommendations. I'm looking forward to our discussion. As I understand,
    the list of recommendations includes a successful Doha round as well as
    a bilateral tax treaty and a bilateral investment treaty. One of the
    things I will share with the Brazilian CEOs is that I strongly support a
    successful Doha round, and our Government will work closely with Brazil
    to get that done. And secondly, in terms of our bilateral policy, I also
    strongly, as does my administration, support a bilateral tax treaty and
    a bilateral investment treaty.
        I'm--relations between our two countries are very positive, and
    they're very important. And so thank you all for coming. Please give my
    best regards to President Lula.
    Thank you for being here.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:57 p.m. in Room 350 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.