For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 17, 2006
Remarks by President Bush and President Lula of Brazil
Konstantinovsky Palace Complex
Strelna, Russia
G-8 Summit 2006
8:55 A.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's an honor for me to have a discussion with my
friend, the President of Brazil. He represents a great country, right
in the heart of our neighborhood.
We've got a lot to discuss. I'm, of course, interested in his
views about different nations in our neighborhood. He's a man who looks
at the world and is able to give a good assessment.
I'm interested in continuing our dialogue about alternative energy.
Brazil has been a leader in development of bio-fuels. I'm interested, as
well, in talking to the President about how we can move the Doha Round
of WTO forward. He's one of the leaders when it comes to trade
discussions. A lot of the world looks to his -- to him for judgment.
And so I view this as a very important meeting. We're committed to a
successful Doha Round. In order for the round to be successful, the
United States and Brazil must continue to strategize.
And so, Mr. President, welcome. You're looking good. You're
looking good.
PRESIDENT LULA: (As translated.) This is because of the election
campaign that's going on. (Laughter.)
Mr. President, for Brazil, the fact that the G8 had decided to
create, open a special moment to discuss the Doha Round at the G8
meeting is extremely important. After our phone conversations, I am
convinced that now is the time for us to make a political decision,
whatever might it be. We cannot leave in the hands of our negotiators
only. They already have done immense work, but now it seems to me that
they don't have any hidden card in their pockets anymore. Now we're the
ones that have to take our cards from the pockets. So that's why it is
extremely important that the G8 discusses this subject matter.
And another important thing is that we see that we will open up the
possibility for us to build partnership with the United States of
America on the issue of renewable sources of energy and fuel. And we
are advancing this field. The bio-diesel program is already a reality.
And now we have another novelty that is the H-bio that is directly,
finally, in the refineries of the blend of oil seeds and vegetable oil
with petroleum.
I'd like to take advantage of this moment and hand over to you --
(laughter) -- our program of renewable sources of fuel. We have
ethanol, bio-diesel, H-bio -- it's almost an invitation, Mr. President,
for us to build a major partnership.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. (Laughter.)
END 8:59 A.M. (Local)
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