[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 38 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
[Page 1430]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat of 
Thailand

September 19, 2005

    President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of 
Thailand back to the--to Washington. Thank you for coming, Mr. Prime 
Minister.
    Prime Minister Thaksin. Thank you.
    President Bush. Laura and I were just talking the other evening 
about what a wonderful visit we had to your country when you hosted 
APEC. It's reminded me--when I was thinking about that visit, reminded 
me of our close friendship. The Prime Minister is a person who believes 
in markets and free enterprise and freedom. And I'm really, really 
pleased he's here.
    We had a--we talked about a lot of subjects. One subject that I'm 
particularly interested in is avian flu and the need for our countries 
to work together. Thailand is a leader in putting systems in place that 
will track the virus as it attacks different birds and watches very 
carefully to make sure that there's no bird-to-human transmission in his 
country. He's willing to work in the neighborhood, for which I'm 
grateful. All of us need to be mindful of this potentially devastating 
disease. And we've got a good friend and a very thoughtful leader when 
it comes to that subject.
    We talked about North Korea. We talked about the neighborhood. We 
talked about our economies. We would like to get a free trade agreement 
concluded here as quickly as possible, and the Prime Minister made that 
very clear to me.
    All in all, it was a very good visit, covering a lot of subjects, 
and I'm not surprised, because I'm visiting with a good friend.
    So, welcome, Mr. Prime Minister.
    Prime Minister Thaksin. Thank you, Mr. President. It's my pleasure 
to visit Washington, DC, again. It's my third time during Prime 
Ministership--and this trip I have been--discussed with the President 
about the bilateral and also the regional--in Asia as well. And we had a 
very good conversation.
    I committed to President Bush that we are pressing ahead with the 
FTA, and also we will work closely with U.S. by drafting the plan of 
action in the cooperation between our two countries and also with the 
third country as well if the two countries would like to work together 
with, in helping or in working with other countries.
    I also want to welcome the President to meet with the ASEAN seven 
during APEC meeting in November in Korea.
    President Bush. Finally, I do want to thank the Prime Minister and 
His Majesty for sending relief supplies to our folks that have been 
affected by Hurricane Katrina. This good country has just come through a 
tsunami, and they're on their way to recovery. And yet they were able 
to, through their--because of their generous hearts, ship help. And so 
thanks very much, and please thank His Majesty for his generous 
contribution to the folks down there.
    Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:52 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to King Phumiphon Adunyadet of 
Thailand.