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Skriven 2006-06-29 23:37:10 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060629) for Thu, 2006 Jun 29
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President Bush Welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi in an Arrival
Ceremony on the South Lawn
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 29, 2006

President Bush Welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi in an Arrival
Ceremony on the South Lawn
The South Lawn

President's Remarks view


9:11 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Laura and I are welcome -- are proud to
welcome and honored to welcome our friend, Prime Minister Koizumi, back to
the White House. Japan and the United States have built a strong alliance
and a close friendship. Decades ago, our two fathers looked across the
Pacific and saw adversaries, uncertainty and war. Today their sons look
across that same ocean and see friends and opportunity and peace.

The friendship between our two nations is based on common values. These
values include democracy, free enterprise, and a deep and abiding respect
for human rights. These values have created a better life for both our
peoples, a firm alliance between our two nations, and a common approach to
our engagement with the world.

These values are under attacks by terrorist networks that bring death and
destruction to all who oppose their hateful ideology. So the United States
and Japan are working together to defend our shared values and win the war
on terror.

Japanese naval vessels have refueled hundreds of coalition ships as part of
Operation Enduring Freedom. Japan is now the third largest donor nation for
reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. In Iraq, Japanese self-defense
forces have helped improve the lives of citizens in a key Iraqi province
that will soon return to Iraqi control. And Japan continues to provide
critical airlift support to coalition forces in Iraq. The people of Japan
can be proud of the contribution their self-defense forces have made in the
war on terror, and Americans are proud to serve alongside such courageous
allies.

Japan and the United States are cooperating to address other threats to our
security. Our two nations are working together through the six-party talks,
insisting that North Korea meet its pledge to abandon all nuclear weapons
and its existing nuclear programs. Japan and the United States are also
founding members of the Proliferation Security Initiative that is working
to keep dangerous weapons from rogue states and terrorist groups. And our
two nations are repositioning our forces to counter the emerging threats of
the 21st century.

As we meet threats to our security, we're also working together to improve
the lives of our people and address common challenges. Our two economies
are the largest in the world, and we are working to expand trade and
investment opportunities for both our peoples. Japan and the United States
are working together for a successful conclusion to the Doha negotiations,
which would add to the prosperity of our nations and help lift millions in
the developing world out of poverty.

With prosperity comes responsibility. So our two nations helped build the
Asian Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, so we can make
the latest energy technologies more widely available, reduce pollution, and
increase energy efficiency.

Americans cherish our friendship with the Japanese people and value our
alliance with the nation of Japan. And we honor the leadership of Japan's
Prime Minister Koizumi. He's a man of vision; he's a man of integrity; and
I'm proud to call him my friend. I thank the Prime Minister for coming to
the White House. And I'm looking forward to joining him tomorrow at
Graceland. (Laughter.) Officially, he's here to see the President -- but I
know the highlight of his visit will be paying his respects to the King.
(Laughter.)

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your leadership and welcome back to
America. (Applause.)

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: Good morning.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Good morning.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: Our Japan children very good. (Laughter.) You can
learn both Japanese and English. In the future, it's useful to you all.

(As translated.) First of all, allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude
to President Bush, the government and the people of the United States for
putting on such a splendid welcome ceremony for me.

In Japan, I am known as "Lucky Man." And I feel that I am lucky in the
United States, as well. Look at this fine weather; I feel that this weather
is also welcoming me.

I believe it is no exaggeration to say that over the past five years, there
has been no world leader, alongside Mr. Bush -- President Bush, among the
world leaders with whom I have felt so much heart-to-heart, felt so deep a
friendship and trust and have cooperated with.

And I believe having personal and good relations between the two leaders is
good not just for the two friends, the two of us. From now on, I'll engage
in the discussions with President Bush on -- as Japan and the United States
are allies on various matters, not simply of bilateral relations, but on
the questions of how best we, our two countries, could cooperate together
as allies in addressing various international issues.

I sincerely hope that my visit this time will enable our two countries to
continue to cooperate and double-up together, and as allies in the
international community make even greater contributions to the numerous
challenges in the world community.

And in concluding, I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for further
prosperity of the government and the people of the United States of
America.

Thank you again. Such a wonderful hospitality. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 9:25 A.M. EDT

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