BEIJING--(Business Wire)--
International Broadcasting Center
Beijing, The People's Republic of China
8:55 A.M. (Local)
Q All right, Al, we thank you. In a few minutes we'll have more of
the women's team qualifying from Sunday afternoon here in Beijing. But
now, live, we're joined by President George W. Bush, who has been at
these games since the Opening Ceremony. You say the Opening Ceremony.
You've seen Michael Phelps and company at the pool. You went to beach
volleyball, the USA's win over China in basketball last night. What
are your impressions so far?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I think the Chinese are being great
hosts. The venues are fantastic. And our team is fired up -- and so am
I. I'm excited to be here. It's -- it's such a thrill to watch our men
and women compete.
Q You met with the ballplayers before the basketball game last
night.
THE PRESIDENT: I did. (Laughter.)
Q What was their response to you?
THE PRESIDENT: Their response was -- well, first of all, obviously
these are great stars. And their response was, thanks for coming; we
are really, really honored to represent America. And I was impressed
by them. And of course they go out and put on a great performance.
Q And winning 101 to 70. Our time here is limited. We'll get to as
much as we can. The Opening Ceremonies were glorious. There's much to
admire about China's people, China's culture, and its present
accomplishments. But this remains an authoritarian state --
THE PRESIDENT: That's true.
Q -- with an abysmal human rights record. In the long run, is
China's rise irreconcilable with America's interests?
THE PRESIDENT: No. In the long run, America better remain engaged
with China, and understand that we can have a cooperative and
constructive, yet candid relationship. It's really important for
future Presidents to understand the relationship between China and the
region, and it's important to make sure that America is engaged with
China -- even though we may have some disagreements.
Q You met with President Hu Jintao not just at the Opening
Ceremony, but privately since then. Did you press him on the full
array of American concerns -- human rights, press freedom, Tibet,
China's support of rogue regimes like Sudan and Myanmar?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes -- and North Korea, and Iran.
Q It was all on the table?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, absolutely, every time -- every time. And you
got to understand something, Bob, I don't need the Olympics to advance
America's agenda. I've met with Hu Jintao a lot since I have been the
President. And, yes, I had a full range -- listen, we agree with them
on a lot of things. And we disagree with them on things. And that's
the way the relationship is going to be. It needs to be, as I
mentioned, constructive and cooperative.
Q This past week you restated America's fundamental differences
with China.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q But given China's growing strength and America's own problems,
realistically how much leverage and influence does the U.S. have here?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I don't see America having problems.
I see America as a nation that is a world leader, that has got great
values. And leverage is -- I don't think you should look at the
relationship as one of leverage. I think you ought to look at the
relationship of one of constructive engagement where you can find
common areas, like North Korea and Iran, but also be in a position
where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious
freedom and political liberty.
Q If these Olympics are as successful as they are shaping up to
be, most people believe this only further legitimizes the ruling party
in the minds on most Chinese citizens. And even absent true liberty as
we understand it, the lives of hundreds of millions of Chinese people
are much better than they once were. Therefore, what's the party's
incentive to reform?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, if you're a religious person,
you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can't be
stopped. And secondly, I think the Olympics are going to serve as a
chance for people to come and see China the way it is, and let the
Chinese see the world and interface and have the opportunity to
converse with people from around the world. This is a very positive
development, in my view, for peace.
And who knows how China is going to progress? They've been through
some very difficult political times -- the Cultural Revolution, for
one, where the leadership actually created violent anarchy and society
turned on itself. All I can tell you is, is that it's important for
the United States to be active in this part of the world with all
countries, and to stay engaged with China.
Q Moving away from China for just a second. During the Opening
Ceremony we saw you conferring with Vladimir Putin.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q We now know you were talking about the conflict that had erupted
that day --
THE PRESIDENT: That's true.
Q -- between Russia and Georgia. Now, Georgia is a former Soviet
republic that is sympathetic to the West --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q -- and that is attempting to embody many Western values. But
just as you need China, you need Russia strategically around the
globe. You got to walk a fine line. What did you say to Putin?
THE PRESIDENT: I said this violence is unacceptable -- I not only
said it to Vladimir Putin, I've said it to the President of the
country, Dmitriy Medvedev. And my administration has been engaged with
both sides in this, trying to get a cease-fire, and saying that the
status quo ante for all troops should be August 6th. And, look, I
expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of
Russia and that we strongly condemn bombing outside of South Ossetia.
It was just interesting to me that here we are trying to promote
peace and harmony and we're witnessing a conflict take place.
Q Right, no Olympic truce in this case.
THE PRESIDENT: There wasn't. And I was very firm with Vladimir
Putin -- he and I have got a good relationship -- just like I was firm
with the Russian President. And hopefully this will get resolved
peacefully. There needs to be a international mediation there for the
South Ossetia issue.
Q A couple more quick things.
THE PRESIDENT: Sure.
Q China is a nation that warmly received Omar al-Bashir of Sudan,
who has since been indicted by the International Court on charges of
genocide.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q Then this past week they revoked the visa of Joey Cheek, an
exemplary Olympian who had planned to come here not to directly
protest China's government, but to call attention to the humanitarian
crisis in Darfur.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q What's your reaction?
THE PRESIDENT: My reaction is I'm sorry Joey Cheek didn't come,
he's a good man. Joey Cheek has just got to know that I took the
Sudanese message for him. My attitude is, is if you got relations with
Mr. Bashir, think about helping to solve the humanitarian crisis in
Darfur. That was my message to the Chinese government.
Q As you attempt to press these points with them, do you find Hu
Jintao not just warm toward you personally, but is he receptive? Do
you sense any movement?
THE PRESIDENT: It's hard to tell. I mean, it's -- all I can tell
you is, is that it is best to be in the position where a leader will
listen to you. I went to church here, and I'm sure the cynics say,
well, you know, it was just a state-sponsored church. On the other
hand -- and that's true. On the other hand, it gave me a chance to say
to the Chinese people, religion won't hurt you, you ought to welcome
religious people. And it gave me a chance to say to the government,
why don't you register the underground churches and give them a chance
to flourish? And he listened politely. I can't read his mind, but I do
know that every time I met with him I pressed the point.
Q Your father has longstanding connections to China. He was an
envoy here even before we established an official ambassador's
position, during the 1970s, and he is here with you on this trip. So
there's a connection, a family connection.
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Yes, there's a great connection. You
know, I can remember riding my bike around Beijing in 1975, and it is
--
Q Only bikes then, just about.
THE PRESIDENT: -- unbelievable how far this has changed. I mean,
it is -- and he feels the same way. And we were honored yesterday when
the President, Hu Jintao, invited my dad and me and Laura and my
sister and my daughter, my brother, for dinner. It was a -- lunch. It
was just a great gesture of kindness.
Bob, it's very important for the American people to know that
coming here gave me a chance, obviously, to root for our team, and
you've captured that, but it's also coming here is a sign of respect
for the Chinese people. And this is a big, important nation. We'll
have our differences, we'll have our agreements. But in order to find
common ground and to move the world toward peace, it is important for
this country to show respect for the people of the country.
Q Briefly, one more sports question.
THE PRESIDENT: Sure.
Q You have been outspoken -- your past connections to baseball;
you used a State of the Union speech to do it, to talk about
performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Marion Jones recently
petitioned you for clemency.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q She's serving time because of involvement in the Balco case --
one-time Olympic hero. We know many Olympians and in your favorite
sport and mine, baseball, big names -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens.
What's your feeling about this and how much do you, as an American,
trust the integrity of the sports you watch?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, well, you know, let's just talk about
baseball. Obviously one of the great things about baseball is we can
compare the records of the players of the '50s to the '60s and the
'70s, and obviously the 1990s, and it is very important for there to
be a -- for the sport to be clean so that the great continuity and the
history of baseball is real. And secondly, we don't want adults
sending mixed messages to children, that it's okay to shoot up drugs
in order to become a star, because it's not okay.
Q Are you going to go to a few more events before you leave?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm going to swimming here -- if you'd ever let me
off this set. (Laughter.)
Q All right. You are dismissed.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir.
Q Thank you, Mr. President.
White House Press Office
1-202-456-2580
Copyright Business Wire 2008
