[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 11 (Monday, March 18, 2002)]
[Pages 424-425]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Jean Chretien of 
Canada

March 14, 2002

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of 
Canada, a personal friend and a great friend of America, back to the 
White House. We had a wide-ranging discussion on a lot of topics, 
starting with how appreciative I am of his steadfast support and the 
Canadian Government's steadfast support and the Canadian people's 
steadfast support in our war against terror. We know the Canadians have 
put troops on the ground in Afghanistan, and they have performed 
brilliantly. For that, we are grateful.
    We also talked about our border. We've got a great relationship on 
our border. We've had a series of meaningful discussions on putting 
reforms in place. I believe our border cooperation is going to be the 
model for not only our hemisphere but also for the world.
    We also talked about trade issues. Canada is a massive trading 
partner with the United States, and it's an important trading partner of 
the United States. And like any relationship that has got a lot of 
issues, sometimes we run into rough spots. And one such issue is 
softwood lumber. But our negotiators, as a result of the Prime 
Minister's assistance and my assistance, are working overtime to achieve 
an agreement by March the 21st. We're making very good progress. And 
we've agreed to keep working hard to achieve an agreement that is 
satisfactory to both parties, and I believe we can achieve that.
    So, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for coming.
    Oh, by the way, we talked energy. It's important for the American 
people to know that as a result of our trade agreements with Canada and 
our close relations, Canada is a significant supplier of energy to the 
United States. And that's positive. It's much better for us to be 
securing our energy from a friend and a stable friend and a partner.
    And so I appreciate the Canadian energy business. I appreciate the 
exploration that's going on. It is good for our economy. I shared with 
the Prime Minister--I'm optimistic about our economy. We've still got 
some rough spots, but it looks like we may be improving. And if we are, 
that will be good news for both of us.
    So, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome back. It is my honor to serve you 
dinner again, and it's a thrill to be with you.
    Prime Minister Chretien. Thank you, Mr. President. I cannot add to 
what the President said. He covered the ground very well. I think the 
relations between America and Canada could not be better. We are solving 
problems when we have one. We are working with America in the war 
against terrorism. Our troops are in the fight at this moment in 
Afghanistan. You know, in the

[[Page 425]]

snow, we're good at it, President, you know. And we----
    President Bush. You're good on the ice, too. [Laughter]
    Prime Minister Chretien. We are good on the ice, too--and both men 
and women. [Laughter] And so--and we have to work on our other problems. 
Thank you for the statement you made on softwood lumber. I think that 
the defense of our values and against terrorism are extremely important 
for Canadians. And we have worked very well together.
    For me, I should say a few words in French, with your permission.
    President Bush. Please
    Prime Minister Chretien. Can you translate after that? [Laughter]

[At this point, Prime Minister Chretien spoke in French and then resumed 
speaking in English.]

    I want to tell you that we spoke about Africa, and I want to say--I 
said that in French--I want to say thank you for what you have announced 
today, about the programs that you have announced, because as you know, 
at Kananaskis in Canada, at the G-8, the main topic will be Africa. And 
we want to establish a partnership with them. They came to Genoa last 
June; you and our colleagues asked me to take--[inaudible]--at that 
time. And I think that the partnership, and with your contribution, is 
developing very well.
    Next month I will be traveling in Africa for--visiting five or six 
countries to build a partnership but to reward good governance, human 
rights, to make sure that they have real democracies, and so on. And 
those who don't do that will have to--not to be rewarded, because they 
will not meet what the world wants.
    So thank you again, Mr. President.
    For the press, I will take questions after my dinner. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 6:10 p.m. in the Colonnade at the White 
House.