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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 16, 2006
President Bush and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore Exchange Toasts
The Istana
Singapore
8:26 P.M. (Local)
PRIME MINISTER LEE: Your Excellency President George Bush and Mrs.
Laura Bush, excellencies and distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of the Singapore government, my wife and I warmly welcome
President and Laura Bush to Singapore. We remember your last visit in
2003, and are very, very happy to have you here again.
Singapore and the U.S. are close friends and strategic partners.
Our relationship is excellent and covers many areas, from trade to
defense and counterterrorism. The friendship has endured because it is
rooted in shared interests and compatible international perspectives.
Mr. President, we are glad that you have found the time to visit
Southeast Asia, and have chosen Singapore to deliver your speech on
America's priorities in the region. America continues to play a vital
role in Asia's stability and prosperity. You have important interests
here that need to be nurtured, amidst your many other commitments
worldwide. Singapore looks forward to greater U.S. engagement in this
part of the world, and I believe so do many other Southeast Asian
countries.
On the security front, Singapore has made common cause with the
U.S. in combating the terrorist threat. The fight against terrorism is
a long-term ideological struggle. The strength and resolve of the
United States, and especially of its Commander-in-Chief, is critical to
sustaining this struggle, and prevailing in it. And in you, President
Bush, America is fortunate to have a leader with the courage of
conviction and the tenacity to press ahead towards your objectives
despite all difficulties. Your steadfast leadership has helped anchor
this effort to make the world a better and safer place for us all.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I now invite you to join me in a toast to
the good health of President and Mrs. Bush and to the enduring
friendship between the United States and Singapore.
(A toast is offered.)
PRIME MINISTER LEE: Thank you. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Mr. Prime Minister and Ms. Lee,
thank you very much for your gracious hospitality. Laura and I are
thrilled to be back here. I'm always amazed when I think about
Singapore, a country that wasn't supposed to be; a part of the world
where people basically said there's no chance for the good folks to
survive and thrive. I'm amazed at your successes, and I appreciate the
values on which your successes rest.
I congratulate the people of Singapore for being such a vivid
example of enterprise and markets and hard work. I congratulate the
government for being visionary in its leadership. And I am thrilled
that you allowed me to give a speech at one of your fine universities,
talking about the importance of the Far East to the future of the United
States.
I thank you very much for serving that meat. (Laughter and
applause.) It was so good, it had to be from Texas. (Laughter.)
The Prime Minister and I have had a lot of discussions about a
variety of issues, and I shared with them one of my chief concerns, that
our country would become -- could possibly become isolationist and
protectionist. In my speech today to the university, Mr. Prime
Minister, I assured the listeners that it is in our interest to remain
engaged in the world. It's in our economic interests and it's in our
national interests that the United States work with strong friends and
allies such as Singapore to spread prosperity and hope, and to work to
lay the foundations for peace.
Mr. Prime Minister, I appreciate your clear vision of the threats
that we face. I appreciate the fact that you see the ideological
struggle before us. I cannot think of a more steadfast leader in you,
and your willingness to make the hard steps necessary to deal with this
challenge today so that our children won't have to deal with it in more
severe terms tomorrow.
I'm proud to call you friend. Laura and I are proud to be in your
presence. May God bless you and your important country. (Applause.)
PRIME MINISTER LEE: Thank you very much.
(A toast is offered.) (Applause.)
END 8:32 P.M. (Local)
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