    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 18, 2008]
    [Pages 694-695]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza
    Gilani of Pakistan in Sharm el-
    Sheikh
    May 18, 2008

        President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for coming. It's the
    first time we've had a chance to visit. I appreciate the very candid
    discussion we had. I appreciate the fact that you're committed to
    working to make sure that relations between the United States and
    Pakistan are strong and vibrant and productive.
        And one area where our relations can be productive is to cooperate
    on economic matters, because the truth of the matter is, in a population
    that has got hope as a result of being able to find work is a population
    that is going to make it harder for extremists and terrorists to find
    safe haven.
        And so I appreciate very much our candid discussion about the
    economy. I fully understand that you're dealing with serious food
    prices. I appreciate the compassion you showed for the people of
    Pakistan. I told the President--the Prime Minister that one thing we can
    do, having talked to the President of Afghanistan, is help Afghanistan grow wheat, help Afghanistan become
    self-sufficient, which will take the pressure off of the people of
    Pakistan.
        The Prime Minister and I talked, of course, about our common desire
    to protect ourselves and others from those who would do harm. And I want
    to thank your steadfast support and your strength of character and your
    understanding of the problems we face. Relations are good between our
    two countries, and they will continue to be good. And I want to thank
    you for coming and to--and advancing those relations.
        Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you.
        President Bush. Welcome.
        Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr.
    President, for this opportunity. I want to take your call to confidence
    that, with the change of the new Government in Pakistan, with a new
    democratic Government in this country, there's a change for the system.
    And I've been unanimously elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan;
    that's the first time in the history of Pakistan. And we have discussed
    in detail on a few issues like economics,

    [[Page 695]]

    like the food problems, like the energy problems.
        And the common problem--and that is the biggest threat to the
    world--is terrorism and extremism. And our Government is committed to
    fight for terrorism and extremism. It is against the humanity; it's
    against the world. And I have lost my own great leader, Benazir Bhutto,
    because of terrorism. Therefore, I pledge and I stand by the world to
    fight against extremism and terrorism.
        I appreciate the support of Mr. President for our concerns on both
    social sectors: economic sectors, energy sectors. And we want to work
    together on all these issues. And I once again thank Mr. President for
    extending this opportunity.
        President Bush. Yes, sir, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you, Mr. Prime
    Minister.
        Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you so much.
        President Bush. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

    Note: The President spoke at 9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sharm El
    Sheikh. In his remarks, he referred to President Hamid Karzai of
    Afghanistan.