print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  
In Focus
News
News by Date
Appointments
Federal Facts
West Wing

 Home > News & Policies > September 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 7, 2007

President Bush Meets with Southeast Asian Leaders
InterContinental Sydney
Sydney, Australia

Play Video  Video
RSS Feed  Presidential Remarks
Play Audio  Audio
photos  Photos

     Fact sheet Fact Sheet: United States Cooperation with Southeast Asia
     Fact sheet APEC 2007

1:49 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for inviting me to join the ASEAN group. ASEAN represents our fourth largest trading partner. In other words, this is a group of friends that represent more than just social acquaintances, you represent commerce and trade and prosperity. And I want to thank you very much for giving me a chance to come and talk to you about our common interests and common goals.


President George W. Bush smiles as he stands for a group photo with Southeast Asian Leaders Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, following a luncheon at the InterContinental in Sydney. Standing with him are Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, left, Noer Hassan Wirajuda, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines. White House photo by Eric Draper I invited the ASEAN leaders to Texas at their convenience. I'm looking forward to hosting you down there. I'm looking forward to continuing our constructive conversation on -- whether it be democracy, or fighting terror, or expanding trade, or avian flu, or climate change.

I also am pleased to announce that we'll be naming an ambassador to ASEAN, so that we can make sure that the ties we've established over the past years remain firmly entrenched.

So I appreciate your hospitality. It's good to be amongst friends. I enjoyed our candid conversation and I thank you for your leadership in this important part of the world.

Thank you all.

END 1:51 P.M. (Local)
President George W. Bush joins leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for a photo opportunity Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, in Sydney. From left are: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont of Thailand; Minister Rafidah Aziz of Malaysia; Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei; President Bush; Foreign Affairs Minister Noer Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia; President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, and President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam. White House photo by Chris Greenberg