[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 30 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Pages 1327-1328]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad bin 
Badawi of Malaysia

July 19, 2004

    President Bush. We'll have just two statements.
    Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
    Prime Minister Abdullah. Thank you very much.
    President Bush. We just had a very wide-ranging discussion. I 
appreciate the Prime Minister's friendship. I want to thank him for his 
leadership. I want to thank him for the cooperation on counterterrorism 
efforts.
    We talked about how we can work together to improve the economic 
condition of both our countries, as well as the Middle East. He had some 
very interesting suggestions about the Middle East. We talked about the 
Israeli-Palestinian issue, and I assured him I am fully committed to the 
development of a Palestinian state that can live side by side with 
Israel in peace.
    We talked about Iraq, and I told him I was pleased with the progress 
being made in Iraq. And the Prime Minister had some helpful suggestions. 
So, all in all, it's been a very constructive meeting.
    I was pleased to hear that there are 7,000 Malaysian students in 
U.S. schools, and I think that's a constructive sign, Mr. Prime 
Minister. And I wish them all the best, and I know they'll be treated 
well here in the United States.
    So welcome, sir.
    Prime Minister Abdullah. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for 
accepting me to come here to call on you in spite of your very busy 
schedule.
    But I would like to say this, that our bilateral relation between 
the United States and Malaysia is certainly very strong. You cannot 
judge our bilateral relations simply on the basis of what you hear--that 
we may have some differences on Iraq or on Palestine. But the foundation 
of the bilateral relation has remained strong all the time. And our 
economic cooperation is excellent, I must say, and our education 
programs, and we have some other cooperation in defense and many areas 
of cooperation, which has made our relation with the United States--our 
relation is very, very, very strong.
    And we believe--and I believe that more can be done, and we have 
already improved a lot. And today I have this assurance from the 
President, himself. And I am certainly grateful you have been able to 
explain to me so many aspects of the issues pertaining to Palestine and 
Israel. There's nothing better than to get from the President of the 
United States, himself, on all these issues because he is very much 
involved. And management of all these problems and issues relating to 
this Palestine and Israel and so--other issues too.
    And we talked about Islam, and we believe that the Muslim countries 
can be helped to better understanding the unique capacity-building. And 
we are also trying to do whatever we can. I think this capacity-building 
can help to reduce poverty, the condition of poverty, and with that, 
deprive the terrorists of their own agenda to hijack these people, and 
to support them.
    And at the same time, I'd like just to tell you that Malaysia is 
ready to send a medical team, a sizable medical team to Iraq.
    President Bush. That's great. Thank you.

[[Page 1328]]

    Prime Minister Abdullah. And we hope to be able to also participate 
in reconstruction of Iraq and do whatever job we can to help.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 3:39 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.