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Welcome to "Ask the White House" -- an online interactive forum where you can submit questions to Administration officials and friends of the White House. Visit the "Ask the White House" archives to read other discussions with White House officials.
In Focus: President's Trip to Asia |
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November 9, 2005
Ming, from Warwick, RI
writes: Dr. Michael Green
In addition to economics, the President will speak to President Hu about how to ensure that North Korea implements the commitments it made in September at the Six Party Talks to the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Russia to completely end its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs. China has a key role to play in seeing this agreement to full implementation and completion and progress will not only bring more peace and stability to the Korean peninsula, but also strengthen U.S.-China relations.
The President always cares about human rights and religious freedom and will attend church in Beijing to worship with Chinese of faith. President Hu has articulated a vision of "peaceful development" for China that shows his own concern for economic development and social harmony in that great country. President Bush looks forward to talking to him about that vision and how our own beliefs in empowering individuals and allowing greater room for faith and free speech will help to reinforce the long-term goals President Hu has for his people.
Sandra, from Washington, D.C.
writes: Dr. Michael Green
The President will also give a major speech in Japan on his vision for the future of freedom in Asia and America's commitment to the region.
In Mongolia the President will congratulate the Mongolian people on the progress they have made to become a mature and stable democracy and he will thank them for their role in Iraq. Per capita only two other countries have sent more of their soldiers to help the Iraqi people establish a democratic and stable nation. It is young democracies like Mongolia's that often understand freedom the most, and the President wants to say thank you. He also wants to demonstrate that even remote countries have a strong friend in the United States when they embark on the path of reform and good governance.
Christopher, from San Antonio
writes:
How do you respond?
Dr. Michael Green John, from Texas writes: Dr. Michael Green Jon, from Midland, Michigan
writes: Dr. Michael Green
Japan has undergone a major reorientation in their economy under Prime Minister Koizumi, but there are still areas that lag. We have had difficulty regaining access to the Japanese beef market since the BSE problem emerged. The Japanese Food Safety Commission has said U.S. and Japanese beef are equally safe and we hope the Japanese government will open the market soon based on those findings. We would frankly like to see Japan do more to lead in the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization, but Japan is still trying to sort out its own domestic agricultural situation.
In short, Japan is leading with the United States, but there are some sectors where we would welcome even more Japanese leadership. George, from Orlando, FL
writes:
Best of luck on the bagpipes
George
Dr. Michael Green Christopher, from San Antonio
writes: Dr. Michael Green
Meanwhile, the United States has supported Taiwan's entrance into the WHO and we will continue to do so. Brian, from Wisconsin writes:
Sincerely, Brian
Dr. Michael Green Shiro, from Hiroshima,Japan writes:
Thank you and I'd like to say that we appreciate his hard work to
spread freedom and democracy all over the world.
Dr. Michael Green
(Thank you very much. This time the President is going to Kyoto. Unfortunately, Hiroshima and Tokyo are not on the itinerary, but we understand that this is the most beautiful season in Kyoto. we are really looking forward to it) Carla, from South Bend, Indiana
writes:
thank you, an avid traveler
Dr. Michael Green
Yes. The President and First Lady will tour the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto with Prime Minister Koizumi. In Gyeongju they will visit a stunning Korean Buddhist temple. In China the President will have opportunities to talk with Chinese about the Olympic Games in 2008. In Mongolia the President and First Lady will visit a traditional Ger (felt tent) village to see Mongolian traditional throat singing, horse-head fiddle playing and other cultural events. Anthony, from Lima Ohio
writes: Dr. Michael Green lucy, from brownsville writes: Dr. Michael Green
The President and the First Lady were shocked at the devastation caused by the tsunami in December of last year. Like many White House, Pentagon and State Department staff, I cancelled my vacation and spent most of the holidays in the office. Working with our counterparts in India, Japan and Australia we quickly mobilized the "Regional Core Group" to get our ships and planes to places like Aceh, Indonesia where they provided much needed relief. We sent a flotilla of 14 ships within days and saved many lives. For the reconstruction phase, the President enlisted his father ("41") and former President Bill Clinton to raise private funds -- those now total well over $1 billion. The USG has itself already spent close to that amount. It was a demonstration of the American peoples compassion, our government's ability to mobilize international support, and the possibilities for Asian nations to pull together for one important common cause.
The more recent earthquake in Pakistan was no less tragic. Just today the President hosted a group of American CEOs to help raise private funds to help with reconstruction. The US Government has pledged over 150 million dollars to get the effort started and our military is once again bringing relief supplies and hope to the people of that region. We are providing 75% of the lift capacity to valleys that have been cut-off and desperately need help. As with the tsunami, we hope that international efforts to bring relief to this region will pave the way for governments there to redouble their efforts to find solutions to the diplomatic and political problems that have obstructed lasting peace and development.
SeongHo, from Seoul, Korea
writes: Dr. Michael Green
We need to continually update and modernize our alliance in the face of new threats. That is why we had a bilateral agreement on restructuring US forces on the peninsula, for example. We also have an intense and productive diplomatic partnership in the Six Party Talks where our close cooperation has brought us to a key agreement in September on the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear programs and a new path for peace and stability on the peninsula.
For my part, I enjoy constant and open communication with my counterparts on the ROK National Security Council Staff. We have an excellent working relationship and wake each other up at all hours of the night to work on issues. Daniel, from Lakeville, CT
writes: Dr. Michael Green Joanna, from Chicago, IL
writes:
Thank you
Dr. Michael Green
If you work at Boeing making the new Dreamliner (or anywhere in Seattle for that matter), you will be very happy that China just agreed to buy 60 of them.
If you are an entrepreneur in the Silicon Valley working on a new software program to increase the efficiency of the internet, you will want to be sure that President Hu follows through on his commitment to the President in New York to increase enforcement against Chinese firms that pirate U.S. software.
And since you are from Chicago, you should be glad that Caterpillar has added 5,500 jobs in the last year because of increasing sales to China of heavy equipment.
So free trade really matters to the American economy and the American people. Trade is always part of the President's agenda with all his counterparts and it helps that we have such strong relationships in the region. It also helps the region move beyond the historic animosities and rivalries that have led to so many wars in Asia in the past -- much better that all the countries in APEC are focused on growing prosperous together.
Dr. Michael Green |
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