    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 32 (Monday, August 18, 2008)]
    [Pages 1123-1124]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

    August 10, 2008

        President Hu. I'm very happy to meet you again, President Bush. And
    I would like to welcome you and your family members to Beijing for the
    opening ceremony of the Olympic games and also to watch the games. This
    is already your fourth visit to China, and this has certainly made you a
    American President that visited China more than any other U.S. President
    while in office. This is a good test to the importance you've placed on
    U.S. relations with China.
        I know that the day before yesterday, you attended the inauguration
    of the U.S. Embassy in China, and the new Chinese Embassy in the United
    States was inaugurated at the end of July. And all this must further
    growth of China-U.S. relationship.
        Now the various events of the Beijing Olympic games are underway
    smoothly. And I know you just came here from swimming center, and I
    would like to offer you my sincere congratulations on the excellent
    performance of Mr. Phelps.
        President Bush. Thank you. [Laughter]
        President Hu. We are confident that he will score even better
    achievements in the coming games.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        President Hu. I would also like to mention the unfortunate happening
    yesterday. Yesterday two American tourists were attacked and one was
    killed; the another was injured. And I would like to take the
    opportunity--please accept my profound sympathy to you, Mr. President,
    and the family members of the victims. The Chinese side takes this
    unfortunate incident very seriously. Yesterday I already instructed the
    competent official in charge of the Chinese Foreign Ministry to go to
    the hospital to see the injured. We take this case very seriously, and
    we have already instructed the competent authorities to carry out a very
    serious investigation and handle the case in accordance with law. We'll
    keep in touch with the U.S. side on the latest developments.
        We're now willing to listen to your views, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. First, Mr. President, thank you for
    your hospitality. I am so honored that you would invite my wife, my
    daughter, my father, my brother, my sister, and sister-in-law to lunch.
    And I congratulate you on the opening ceremonies. I'm not sure what it
    looked like on TV, but I can tell you what it looked in person; and it
    was spectacular.
        And we are enjoying the games and, matter of fact, looking forward
    to tonight's big game, U.S. men's versus China men's basketball.
    [Laughter] Somebody asked me if we were going to make a bet on the game.
    I said, I don't think so.
        I do want to thank you very much for how you handled--I do want to
    thank you very much, Mr. President, for how you handled the situation
    with the Bachman family. And I thank you for your expressions of
    sympathy. And the Ambassador informs me that your Government has been
    very attentive and very sympathetic, and I appreciate that a lot.
        Today--I mean, every time I come to China, I have memorable
    experiences. I enjoy our conversations that we have. As you know, our
    relationship is constructive, and it's important. And it's also very
    candid, and I thank you for that.
        And once again, I had a very uplifting experience by going to a
    church, and I want to thank you for arranging that as well. It was a
    spirit-filled, good feeling. And as you know, I feel very strongly about
    religion, and I am so appreciative of the chance to go to church here in
    your society.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. in Han Yuan Dian Hall at the
    Zhongnanhai. In his remarks, he referred to Todd and Barbara Bachman,
    who were attacked on August 9 while touring the Drum Tower in Beijing;
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi of China; and U.S. Ambassador to
    China Clark T. Randt, Jr. He also referred to his daughter Barbara P.
    Bush; his brother Marvin P. Bush and his sister-in-law Margaret Bush;
    and his sister, Dorothy Bush Koch. President Hu referred to Michael
    Phelps, swimmer, U.S. Olympic team. President Hu spoke in Chinese, and
    his remarks were translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available
    for verification of the content of these remarks.

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