[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 47 (Monday, November 27, 2006)]
[Page 2076]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With President Hu Jintao of China in Hanoi

November 19, 2006

    President Hu. It's a great pleasure to see you again, Mr. President. 
I remember, in the course of this year, we have already met each other 
three times; we had four telephone conversations; and we also maintained 
frequent exchange of letters. So it is fair to say that we are keeping 
very close touch and this has vigorously promoted China-U.S. relations.
    I'm pleased to see new progress in China-U.S. relations since our 
meeting in St. Petersburg in July this year. Our two countries have 
maintained a frequent exchange of visits at the top levels and at 
different levels. And actually, our trade has also been expanding very 
rapidly, and I do have a piece of good news to share with you. According 
to U.S. statistics, in first 7 months of this year, U.S. exports to 
China jumped 35 percent.
    Nationally, our mechanism for having strategic economic dialog has 
also been launched, and the first inaugural dialog will be held in 
Beijing around the middle of next month. And Chinese naval ships have 
again paid a visit to the continental America for the first time in 6 
years. And even as we speak, our naval ships of the two countries are 
conducting joint search and rescue maneuvers in Chinese waters.
    So, all in all, we feel very happy about the healthy and stable 
extension of China-U.S. relations. I think we would not have achieved 
such a state of our bilateral relations had it not been for your 
outstanding leadership.
    President Bush. Well, thank you.
    President Hu. So, with this, I would like to turn it over to you.
    President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. You're right; you and I 
have had a lot of meetings. And the reason why is because we recognize 
that working together, we can accomplish a lot for the security of the 
world and for the prosperity of our people. China is a very important 
nation, and the United States believes strongly that by working 
together, we can help solve problems such as North Korea and Iran.
    Our bilateral relations are very good, and we--you and I are 
committed to keeping them that way. Obviously, with as much commerce 
between our countries as there is, there's going to be trade 
difficulties, but nevertheless, we both adopt a spirit of mutual respect 
and the desire to work through our problems for the common good of our 
peoples.
    I strongly support your vision, Mr. President, of encouraging your 
country to become a nation of consumers and not savers, which will inure 
to the benefit of our manufacturers, both large and small, and our 
farmers as well.
    I always enjoy our frank and friendly discussions, and I'm looking 
forward to this one as well. And I thank you for your hospitality.
    Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 8:34 a.m. at the Hanoi Daewoo 
Hotel. President Hu spoke in Chinese, and his remarks were translated by 
an interpreter.