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CNN Live Event/Special

Bush, da Silva Deliver Joint Remarks

Aired November 06, 2005 - 10:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

HOWARD KURTZ, CNN ANCHOR: Let's stand by. We may be able to go back to the president. We had a problem with that transmission earlier. Let's listen in, in Brazil.
LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENT, BRAZIL (through translator): ... to achieve multilateral economic and trade discussions. The successful conclusion of the Doha round by the end of 2006 is a priority for the United States, as much as it is for Brazil. We agree with can the reduction with a view to the elimination of agricultural subsidies will be a key to balance in that round.

I think President Bush for his words of support for Brazil's determination to contribute to development and stability in our region. It is for all of these regions that we are very glad to see the U.S.'s willingness to include Brazil amongst those countries with whom Brazil -- the United States has a strategic and privileged dialogue.

President Bush, what we leave for history is more than our immediate decisions. What really matters are those initiatives that take into account future generations as well as the need for us to face and overcome the major challenges of our time.

Brazilian foreign policy transcends government. At the same time, we defend our national interests, we pursue major democratic values in the international sphere. In that sense, I once again insist that U.S.-Brazil relations are fundamental, and their improvement is a legacy that we should leave to those who will come after us.

Thank you very much.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. President, thank you very much. Laura and I are really pleased to be here on our first visit to Brazil. My only regret is that I am not able to travel around a lot of your country to see the vast beauty of Brazil. (AUDIO GAP) spectacular part of the world, and I want to thank you for your invitation to come here.

The president promised to take me fishing. Of course, he said afterward, the entourage is a little big to go fishing while I'm president. But Mr. President, Laura and I appreciate the hospitality that you and Mrs. Marisa have shown us. We're also looking forward to a good old fashioned Brazilian barbecue. It will remind me of home.

We -- let me start off by saying that the president is right. Relations between Brazil and the United States are essential and they are strong. We've had many constructive discussions.

I remember the first time you came to the Oval Office, and I was most impressed by your strong commitment to your program of zero hunger. It struck me as not only sincere but reflecting your deep compassion for the people. And since then, we have had a capacity to sit down and talk about issues that are important for not only our respective countries, and the world. And I -- I want to thank you for that frank and open relationship.

Brazil and America are interesting places, obviously, but one thing they have in common is that we are a country -- two countries that are able to deal with our diversity in such a way as to strengthen our nation. Brazil is a very diverse country, as is America. And it's those common values that we both adhere to, that make it feasible for people from different backgrounds to live in peace and harmony.

And we discussed those values, the president and I did. He's a man who believes strongly in democracy, as do I, and rule of law and the right of free speech and the right to a free press and free religion. I want to thank you for your strong belief and your willingness to stand strong on those principles.

We're the two largest democracies in the world. Therefore, we have obligations to work together to promote peace and prosperity. We started what's called the group for growth to find ways to develop economic possibilities and potential in our respective countries.

I must say, Mr. President, I'm impressed by the economic reforms you've put in place, for the achievements you have made to good government policy to encourage growth not only here at home, but to encourage exports. We are encouraged by the increase of bilateral trade between our countries.

I met with some business people earlier today, and they were talking about how important our markets are to each other and that trade is an important way for people to be able to find work in our countries. And good trade is trade where people benefit on both sides of the issue. That it must be equitable, it fair. And I'm convinced that's the trade relationship we have on a bilateral basis.

I know you're concerned about creating jobs, and your country has done a very good job of doing so while keeping inflation down. And I appreciate your understanding that free trade and fair trade is a way to help the citizens of your country.

We can have free and fair trade without losing national identity. We can have free or fair trade without penalizing local small businesses and entrepreneurs. And the president is working hard to make sure that the trade opportunities available to the citizens of Brazil are done in such a way that there's a spirit of -- there's an equitable spirit involved. And I want to thank you for your leadership on that.

We've got some opportunities to continue to expand trade. I firmly believe that, if one wants to eliminate poverty around the world, the best way to do so is to advance the Doha round of the WTO.

Now, the president has made it very clear that it's difficult to get a Doha round going so long as there are countries that refuse to yield on agricultural matters. And I heard that loud and clear. And so recently I made a statement, or a series of statements that said the United States will reduce subsidies and tariffs, so long as we get the same treatment from trading partners, such as Europe.

In other words, I just -- if we lower the subsidies, we would very much like to be able to tell our farmers the same thing the president wants to tell his farmers, that there's access to markets.

And so we made a very strong statement toward advancing the Doha round of the WTO. We declared our intention, and I told the president I was very serious in that declaration. And we agreed to work together to advance the round.

It's in -- it's in the workers of Brazil's interests that WTO advance. This is a vast country with great resources and a work force that's hardworking. And the more products that Brazilians can manufacture and sell overseas, the better -- more likely that people will be able to find work.

And so one of the interesting things that has come out of this meeting is a renewed commitment to working together to eliminate poverty by creating opportunity through international trade that's fair, that's fair for the people of Brazil and fair for the people of America.

And along those lines, we continued our discussions that was taking place in Argentina. There is an opportunity to advance trade. And we agreed to speak about that, and how best to work together, for example, to be able to compete with countries like China or India. It's in our interest that we work together on our trade agenda. I call it the free trade agreement of the Americas. You refer to it as ALCA.

The president said, "Look, let's work together on Doha and see how that goes and we'll continue to -- working on the free-trade agreement with the Americas."

It's important for the people of Brazil to understand that such an agreement will not be done if the president thinks this isn't in the interests of the people. That I -- he's got to be convinced, just like the people of America must be convinced, that a trade arrangement in our hemisphere is good for jobs; it's good for the quality of life.

So I look forward to continuing to work on international matters and regional matters, as well as bilateral matters, Mr. President.

I want to thank you for your leadership around the world and in the hemisphere. I want to thank you for your commitment to Haiti. There's elections coming up soon, and the Brazilian presence there has made it more likely those elections will go forward in a free and fair way. You're -- you've taken a responsible position, and I hope your country is proud of the fact that you've seized this moment. I want to thank you, as well, for working on HIV/AIDS with the United States. Like you, we share a deep commitment to help those who suffer from this pandemic. And like you, we do more than talk; we act. As a result of our combined efforts, hundreds of thousands of people are getting anti-retroviral drugs. And that's important. And I want to thank you for that.

One of the things that I appreciate about president is he fully understands that narco-trafficking and terrorism can disrupt the democratic way of life. And Brazil has been strong, strong in working with other countries to prevent a few criminals or thugs from disrupting our way of life, and done so with constitutional guarantees in mind.

But we always keep human rights in the forefront of our policy. But we also know that we must work together to prevent those who would murder the innocent or those who would pollute the bodies of our young from being able to do so. And I want to thank you, again, for your leadership on that.

This has been a constructive trip. Constructive because, Mr. President, I enjoy working with you. Constructive because you're frank in our discussions, and constructive because together we can do some good for not only our own people but for the world. Thank you very much, sir.

KURTZ: President Bush heaping praise on his host, President Lula da Silva, in Brazil.

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