    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 32 (Monday, August 18, 2008)]
    [Page 1124]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Vice President Xi Jinping of China in
    Beijing

    August 10, 2008

        Vice President Xi. I very much welcome you, Mr. President, and your
    family members to Beijing for the opening ceremony and for the different
    events and for this visit to Beijing. To my knowledge--that you have a
    quite rich and full and interesting program here in Beijing, and I hope
    you like the program.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Vice President Xi. I'm very familiar with you, Mr. President,
    because you are always in the limelight of international media.
    [Laughter] And I'm very happy to have this opportunity to meet you and
    get acquainted with you.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        Vice President Xi. That's why the fact that you've come to attend
    the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic games shows your support for
    the Chinese efforts to host this Olympiad, and it also shows your
    understanding and respect for the Chinese people to host these games.
        The U.S. delegation is a very powerful and strong delegation, and
    you still have a overwhelming and very obvious edge in athletic sports.
    And I would like to wish American athletes every success and you good
    performance at the Beijing Olympic games.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Vice President Xi. Just now you had a friendly meeting with
    President Hu Jintao, and I know later on you are going to have a meeting
    with Premier Wen Jiabao. I'm very happy to have this opportunity to
    learn about your views and opinions.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Well, thank you very much for your
    hospitality. We've just had a fabulous lunch, and I'm looking forward to
    this meeting as well.
        I thank you for the warm hospitality. The opening day celebration
    was unbelievable. And I appreciate the beautiful venues, and I'm looking
    forward to seeing some of our teams compete.
        So, we thank you very much, sir. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:48 p.m. in Building 202 at the
    Zhongnanhai. Vice President Xi referred to President Hu Jintao and
    Premier Wen Jiabao of China. Vice President Xi spoke in Chinese, and his
    remarks were translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available for
    verification of the content of these remarks.