[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 27 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Pages 971-972]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India 
in Toyako

July 9, 2008

    President Bush. Prime Minister Singh and I just had a typical 
conversation amongst

[[Page 972]]

friends. We talked about common opportunities, world problems, and we 
did it in a spirit of respect. And it was easy for me to do because I 
respect the Prime Minister a lot. I also respect India a lot. And I 
think it's very important that the United States continues to work with 
our friends to develop not only a new strategic relationship but a 
relationship that addresses some of the world's problems.
    We talked about the India-U.S. nuclear deal and how important that 
is for our respective countries. We talked about the environment and how 
we can work together to grow our economies and, at the same time, be 
responsible stewards of the environment. We talked about free trade, the 
Doha round, and how important it is that nations such as India and the 
United States find common ground to make sure protectionist sentiments 
don't wall us off from the rest of the world.
    We talked about educational exchanges. I reminded the Prime Minister 
that the Indian American population is very proud of this relationship 
and proud of their heritage and proud of the leadership of the Prime 
Minister.
    All in all, it was a really good meeting amongst two friends. And 
so, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for joining us today, and 
congratulations on your leadership at home.
    Prime Minister Singh. Mr. President, it is a great privilege for me 
to once again meet you and to review with you the state of Indo-American 
relations. And I'm very happy to report to the President that our 
relations have moved forward handsomely since our first meeting in July 
2005. We have made progress in all areas. We have progressed in nuclear 
cooperation, space cooperation, defense cooperation, educational 
exchanges, our working together in multilateral institutions for the 
success of Doha round. And I am very pleased with the state of our 
relationship, which has truly acquired the characteristic of a genuine 
strategic partnership.
    I thank the President for his personal, magnificent contribution to 
the evolution of our relationship. And all I can say is, our 
relationship with the United States has never been in such good shape as 
it is today. And it is the intention of my Government, as I believe it 
is also the will of the Indian people, particularly the thinking 
segments of our population, that in this increasingly interdependent 
world that we live in, whether it is a question of climate change, 
whether it is a question of managing the global economy, India and 
United States must stand tall, stand shoulder to shoulder. And that's 
what is going to happen.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir. We're standing shoulder to shoulder 
right here.

Note: The President spoke at 8:23 a.m. at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort 
and Spa.