[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 22 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[Page 792]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting on Earthquake Relief Efforts in China

June 6, 2008

    Thank you very much, Bonnie, for inviting me here. I'm proud to be 
here with Secretary of State Rice, Secretary of Treasury Paulson. 
Ambassador, thank you for being here.
    I've just been briefed about how the United States private sector, 
faith-based community, NGO community's responding to what is a horrible 
human disaster in China--estimated 70,000 people have died, 18,000 
people missing, 15 million people homeless, and the tally is still being 
counted. There's no question, this is a major human disaster that 
requires a strong response from the Chinese Government, which is what 
they're providing, but it also responds--a compassionate response from 
nations to whom--for--that have got the blessings--good blessings of 
life, and that's us.
    I told the folks assembled here that I'm not surprised that the 
American people have responded to this challenge. And the reason I'm not 
surprised is, we're a compassionate, decent nation that cares deeply 
about a stranger who hurts. And so the response of the--so far of our 
American citizens have been impressive--unprecedented and unparalleled 
in its compassion.
    There'll be more work that needs to be done. My message to the 
Chinese Government is, thank you for welcoming our aid; thank you for 
taking a firm response to this disaster; and just know the American 
people care about the people of China. When a brother and sister hurts, 
we care about it.
    And so that's why our response has been so robust and so 
compassionate to date. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my 
heart for showing the great compassion of America.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:43 a.m. at the American Red Cross 
National Headquarters. In his remarks, he referred to Bonnie McElveen-
Hunter, chairman of the board of governors, American Red Cross; and 
China's Ambassador to the U.S. Zhou Wenzhong.