[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 27 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Pages 972-973]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With President Hu Jintao of China in Toyako

July 9, 2008

    President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much for your time. 
We--you and I have had a lot of meetings together, and I always 
appreciate the candid discussions on a variety of issues.
    The President and I discussed Taiwan; we discussed Sudan; we 
discussed trade. We discussed a variety of issues. I told the President 
I was looking forward to coming to the Olympics. I reminded him that not 
only am I coming, but my wife, my mother, and dad will be there, and 
we're looking forward to your hospitality.
    And of course, in this context, I--the President and I have 
constantly had discussions about human rights and political freedom. He 
knows my position. And as I told our people, Mr. President, I don't need 
the Olympics to talk candidly with somebody who I've got good relations 
with.
    So I'm looking forward to your hospitality, and I'm really looking 
forward to watching the American Olympic team compete, particularly with 
the mighty Chinese team. And I'm hoping to get tickets for the U.S.-
Chinese basketball game. If you could help me get a ticket, I'd 
appreciate it. [Laughter]
    But thank you very much.
    President Hu. Just now, President Bush and I had a sincere and 
friendly meeting, and we had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. 
relations and issues of mutual interest. We both believe that a new 
progress has been made in China-U.S. relationship in recent years. Our 
two countries not only have

[[Page 973]]

close interactions between high-level leaders but also between people at 
various other levels. Not long ago, China and United States successfully 
held the fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue, which produced positive 
results.

    In addition, our two countries have also had fruitful cooperation in 
economic, trade, counterterrorism, energy, environmental protection, and 
other areas. We also have had close communication and coordination on 
such major regional and international issues as the Korean nuclear issue 
and Iranian nuclear issue.

    To further consolidate and grow China-U.S. relationship not only 
serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and our two 
peoples but also will have a major impact on peace, stability, and 
prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world at large. Both 
President Bush and I said that we will continue to keep the larger 
direction of growing this constructive and cooperative relationship 
between us, and we will try to make efforts to ensure that this 
relationship will continue to grow on a sound and steady course.

    I also briefed President Bush about the Chinese position on the 
Taiwan issue and informed President Bush about the current situation in 
the Taiwan Strait. We hope that the U.S. side will continue to follow 
the ``one China'' policy.

    I welcome President Bush to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony 
of the Olympic games. And I highly appreciated that President Bush has 
on various occasions expressed his opposition to politicizing the 
Olympic games.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 3:33 p.m. at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort 
and Spa. President Hu spoke in Chinese, and his remarks were translated 
by an interpreter.