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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 8, 2005
Interview of the President by Phoenix Television
The Map Room
1:34 P.M. EST
Q Mr. President, thank you for selecting Phoenix Television for this interview. What greeting and message would you like to convey to the Chinese people prior to your visit to China?
THE PRESIDENT: First, that the relationship between China and America is an important relationship. It's a mixed relationship. There is a lot of good that we're doing together. And there's a lot of areas where we may not have full agreement, but, nevertheless, are able to discuss our disagreements in a very cordial way. And so I would tell the people of China you live in a great, massive country that's growing well, and that we want to have good relations with you.
Q This will be your third formal visit to China.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q What do you hope to achieve with this visit?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, the visit is giving me a chance to further get to know the leadership. President Hu is a person who I enjoy visiting with. He is a smart fellow. And the more you get to know a person, the better -- the easier it is to make good policy.
Secondly, I'm going to, of course, be going to China to represent the interests of my people. I'll talk about the need for trade that is free and fair. I'll talk about the currency, of course. I'll talk about intellectual property rights, that the President and I have discussed before.
And then on the international front we'll, of course -- I'll confirm my one China, three communiqu policy, that not only says that we do not support independence, but as well, we will adhere to the Taiwan Relations Act. I think that's important for the Chinese leadership and the people of China to hear.
We've also got an agenda to fight terrorism, fight narco-trafficking, as well as to work together to convince the leader of North Korea that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear weapons-free.
So we've got a broad agenda.
Q Keep you busy.
THE PRESIDENT: It will keep us busy, but it's an important agenda and the people of China must understand that when the United States and China works together we can accomplish a lot.
Q You brought up Taiwan. I remember in 2001 and 2003 you made strong statements regarding Taiwan.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q And regarding the recent development, do you feel less concern about a cross strait situation than you were in, like, 2003?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm always concerned that one party or the other will do something unilaterally to change the status quo, which would then create, you know, a source of angst and anger. And, therefore, I'm constantly reiterating my position so that both sides clearly know the position of the United States.
Q Are you optimistic about a peaceful resolution in the end?
THE PRESIDENT: I have seen some -- yes, I am optimistic there will be a peaceful resolution. Secondly, I am optimistic because I have seen cross straits discussion starting to take place. And I urge the parties to continue those discussions. I believe it is possible, through discussion and goodwill, to end up solving this issue in a peaceful way.
Q You call U.S.-China relationship "complicated."
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q And we heard U.S. officials and experts have variously called China a threat, a partner, a competitor and an opportunity. So how do you see China and what's your plan to deal with China's emergence?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's interesting -- all the different adjectives I guess kind of express a complicated relationship. I would say -- I think we've got a lot of issues to deal with, is the best way to describe it. And on issues on which we agree, we can make positive contributions and change.
Issues we don't necessarily agree on, we can work through, and do so in a frank way. And I repeat, I think we have a fantastic opportunity by working with China and other countries to make sure that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear weapons-free, which will lay a foundation for a peace in the region and the hemisphere, and that's important.
Q You brought up North Korea. What other issues do you most seek China's support and cooperation? And what do you expect them to do?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, on the United Nations Security Council we work on every issue together. And one way for us to be able to work together is just to share opinions on different issues. For example, I'll bring up Iran. I want the President to understand how I think it's important for the free world and the peaceful world to work together to convince the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon.
China has got influence. China is a big, powerful nation. And, therefore, it's in our interest that we share ideas and work together. I'll also want to continue discussions on the economic front, because we've got a big trade imbalance with China. But we're making progress; the Chinese took a good first step on having a market currency, I believe they ought to do more. The President made a very strong statement in New York about intellectual property rights. We've reached a textile agreement, which is a very important signal to our folks who want to make sure that the President works for fair trade. And with the trade balance as big as it is, you know, it's important for people here in America to be able to say to themselves -- we hope it's fair. And I'm going to continue to insist on fair trade, as well.
Finally, there is a couple of other areas we can work on, if you've got a second. One is energy. We consume a lot of energy. China is consuming more energy. And we need to share information and share technologies so both of us can diversify away from hydrocarbons.
Q My last question, in 1975 you visited China, when your father was U.S. representative in Beijing.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I did.
Q I know you spent your 29th birthday there --
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. (Laughter.)
Q -- and went back a number of visit over the years. Can you share with us some of the memories that made the deepest impression on you when you think of China?
THE PRESIDENT: I think of how different China is today than it was in 1975. In 1975 -- first of all, I had a fantastic experience when I went there in 1975.
Q Good to know.
THE PRESIDENT: I really did. It was great. It was really interesting. The two impressions -- a couple of impressions. One, everybody was on bicycles; there weren't many automobiles. I happened to be one of the people on bicycles. I rode all over the place in Beijing, which was fascinating.
Secondly, I can remember how odd people thought I looked. In other words, there wasn't much exposure to the West, and all of a sudden, an American starts riding a bike amongst them and it, frankly, surprised some people.
And, thirdly, I noticed there was uniformity in dress. People wore the same style clothes. And that's changed, which means there's a market; people are beginning to express their own individual desires and somebody is meeting those desires with a product. There's high-rise buildings that are magnificent. When I went to Shanghai right after September the 11th, 2001, I was -- it was mind-boggling to look at the fantastic buildings that had been built between the airport and the old town.
So this is a country that has progressed a lot since 1975, which shows the vast potential of China. And it explains to people -- it should explain to people in America why it's important for our government to have a good working relationship -- as complex as it is, but to have a good working relationship. And we do. And that's in the interest not only of our respective people, but it's in the interest of the world.
Q Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming.
Q I wish you a very good trip to Asia and a successful visit to China.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
END 1:42 P.M. EST