Text 1191, 89 rader
Skriven 2005-07-18 23:33:26 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050718) for Mon, 2005 Jul 18
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President Welcomes Prime Minister Singh of India in Arrival Ceremony
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 18, 2005

President Welcomes Prime Minister Singh of India in Arrival Ceremony
The South Lawn

President's Remarks
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9:11 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kaur, Laura and I are honored to
welcome you to the White House.

We meet as leaders of two great democracies, committed to working together
for a better and a safer world. Your visit reflects the growing bonds of
cooperation between your nation and mine. Our nations have ties that are
strong and warm. These ties are enriched by hundreds of thousands of
Americans of Indian origin who contribute so much to America's vitality.
Our people share the bonds of friendship and a commitment to prosperity,
peace and regional stability. Our nations believe in freedom. And our
nations are confronting global terrorism.

As diplomatic partners, we're meeting this threat in our own nations and
abroad. And as economic partners, we're working around the world to
displace hatred and violence with prosperity, hope and optimism. India's
embrace of democracy and human rights had ensured that its great diversity
will remain a national strength. And since enacting economic reforms in the
early '90s, India has become an emerging economic power to the betterment
of its people.

The relationship between our two nations has never been stronger, and it
will grow even closer in the days and years to come. This transformed
relationship was seen vividly in the response to the December 26th tsunami
that devastated parts of Asia. Along with Japan and Australia, our two
nations launched a coordinated and effective disaster relief mission,
providing assistance and relief where it was most needed.

Mr. Prime Minister, the United States and India have built a relationship
of great potential as we face this century's challenges. We look forward to
building on our strong bilateral relationship to expand our economic ties
and to lay the foundation of peace and prosperity for our children and our
grandchildren.

Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister, and thank you for coming. (Applause.)

PRIME MINISTER SINGH: Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, thank you very much for your warm words of welcome. I
greatly value this invitation to visit Washington, and I look forward to my
discussions with you this morning. I'm confident that my visit today will
give us an opportunity to develop and take forward this strategic
partnership between India and the United States.

We share a common commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, pluralism
and rule of law. We face common challenges that threaten our way of life
and values that both our countries hold dear. We share a common resolve and
a common responsibility to meet those challenges.

Mr. President, there is vast potential for our countries to work together
on an ambitious agenda of cooperation, bilaterally, and with regard to what
we can do together to address the global challenges.

Mr. President, your personal commitment to our relations is widely
appreciated in India. I am confident that from our talks today will emerge
an agenda of cooperation that reflects a real transformation of our
relationship. Its realization would help India meet the expectations of its
people for a better quality of life, a more secure future, and a greater
ability to participate in global creativity. I also believe that working
together, our two countries can make a significant contribution to global
peace, security and development.

Let me conclude, Mr. President, by thanking you and the First Lady, Mrs.
Laura Bush, once again for the warmth of your welcome. I thank you, Mr.
President. (Applause.)

END 9:16 A.M. EDT

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