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Ärende: Press Release (070515) for Tue, 2007 May 15
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President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden to the
White House
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 15, 2007

President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden to the
White House Oval Office

˙ /news/releases/2007/05/20070515.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio

˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Global Diplomacy

11:05 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.

We have just had a wide-ranging, significant dialogue. We talked about a
lot of areas of interest. Two areas that I think really will have a
profound effect on our respective countries, as well as on the world, are
the issue of climate change and trade.

Let me start with trade. The Prime Minister is very interested in the Doha
Round. He's interested in U.S. strategies to achieve success in the Doha
Round. I assured him that we're committed to achieving a world that trades
more freely; that we recognize we have obligations to do -- to deal with
our agricultural subsidies in order to move the Doha Round forward; that
Sue Schwab is committed to working with our European counterparts, as well
as President Lula of Brazil, Prime Minister Singh of India -- two countries
that represent others involved in the Doha Round -- and we believe that
it's possible, very possible that we'll be successful. And so we're moving
forward optimistically on this issue.

Secondly, we talked about climate change. The Prime Minister is concerned
about greenhouse gases. I share your concerns about this issue. We talked
about how, on the one hand, we can work together -- as I understand, we're
signing some agreements that have -- that move forward alternative energy
proposals. I assured the Prime Minister that here at home, that I'm
concerned about the environmental issues, as well as the national security
implication for being too dependent on oil.

I shared with him my optimism about reducing U.S. gasoline consumption by
20 percent over the next 10 years by promoting alternative fuels. I talked
to him about our desire to work with Europe and China and India and Japan
and Australia and other countries about an international framework that
will meet the following objectives: One, economic vitality and growth; two,
the advance of new technologies; and third, obviously, the effects that
will have on reducing greenhouse gases.

The Prime Minister made this a center point of our conversation, and I
fully appreciate and understand why. I appreciate the leadership you've
taken on this important issue, not only in your country, but at the EU, as
well. It's noticeable to me here in the United States, and I congratulate
you for being the strong leader that you are.

All in all, we've had a wonderful discussion, and I welcome you here to the
Oval Office.

PRIME MINISTER REINFELDT: Thank you very much. It's been great. Thank you.

Well, I feel -- will say that I pointed out the importance of President
Bush's leadership on the Doha Round. There are too few in the world
fighting for free trade, so we need the President on that. And I hope we
could, during a very short span, bring this to an end.

And I was so grateful for the comments and leadership on the climate issue.
It will be debated many years to come. So thank you very much for that.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. Appreciate you coming.

END 11:10 A.M. EDT

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