Posted on 08/07/2008 6:24:11 PM PDT by snugs
The President, First Lady and their daughter Barbra were in Thailand today and then travelled to Beijing China where they will attend the opening of Olympics tomorrow.
Pray for President Bush -- Day 2885
QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Visits Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand
One question on the minds of many here in Asia -- and many around the world -- is the future direction of China. I've been fascinated by China since my first trip there in 1975, when my dad was the head of the United States Liaison Office in Beijing. At the time, the country was just emerging from the Cultural Revolution. Poverty was rampant. Bicycles were everywhere, and people were wearing almost identical clothes. It seemed unimaginable that three decades later Beijing would be sprinting into the modern era -- covered in skyscrapers, filled with cars, and home to international businesses, as well as hosting the Olympic Games.
Over the years, America has had complex relations with China. I was determined to set our relationship on sturdy and principled footing. Four goals we've pursued in Asia -- reinforcing our alliances, forming new democratic partnerships, deepening our economic ties, and cooperating on shared challenges -- have given America and our allies valuable new platforms from which to confidently engage China. A peaceful and successful future for this region requires the involvement of both China and the United States. And it's important that America's engagement throughout the Asia Pacific be purposeful and enduring.
China and the United States share important economic interests. The growth sparked by China's free market reforms is good for the Chinese people, who are building a confident middle class with a stake in a peaceful future. China's new purchasing power is good for the world, because it provides an enormous market for exports from across the globe. The key to ensuring that all sides benefits is insisting that China adhere to the rules of the international economic system. So America strongly supported China's accession to the World Trade Organization, where we're able to contest trade practices that we find unfair. I was disappointed that the Doha Round of trade talks has stalled, and the United States will continue to engage China, India, and other nations to help reach a successful conclusion.
America has also established a new strategic economic dialogue with China, where we discuss ways to ensure long-term growth and widely-shared prosperity in both our economies, as well as issues like currency exchange rates and intellectual property rights. Through these discussions and others, we're making clear to China that being a global economic leader carries with it the duty to act responsibly on matters from energy to the environment to development in places like Africa.
America and China have found other areas of cooperation. We're partnering to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. China has played a critical leadership role in the six-party talks. America has also stressed our determination to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait. From the beginning of my presidency, I have stated clearly that America's approach to Taiwan would be based on our longstanding "one-China" policy, our three joint communiques, and our steadfast commitment to the security of Taiwan's democracy under the Taiwan Relations Act. I've also articulated a principle that there should be no unilateral attempts by either side to alter the status quo. And as a result of frank engagement and firm diplomacy, the tensions that once roiled the Taiwan Strait have calmed, and we're witnessing a new period of stability and peace.
Our constructive relationship in these areas has placed America in a better position to be honest and direct on other issues. I have spoken clearly and candidly and consistently with China's leaders about our deep concerns over religious freedom and human rights. I have met repeatedly with Chinese dissidents and religious believers. The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings. So America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists. We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labor rights not to antagonize China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential. We press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs. As Chinese scientist Xu Liangying has said: "Human nature is universal and needs to pursue freedom and equality."
Ultimately, only China can decide what course it will follow. America and our partners are realistic, and we're prepared for any possibility. I'm optimistic about China's future. Young people who grow up with the freedom to trade goods will ultimately demand the freedom to trade ideas, especially on an unrestricted Internet. Change in China will arrive on its own terms and in keeping with its own history and its own traditions. Yet change will arrive. And it will be clear for all to see that those who aspire to speak their conscience and worship their God are no threat to the future of China. They're the people who will make China a great nation in the 21st century.
This is my last trip to East Asia as President. I have great confidence that Asia will continue to grow in opportunity and achievement and influence. I'm confident because I know the creative and enterprising spirit of this region's people. I'm confident because the forces of freedom and hope that unleashed the transformation of Asia can never be turned back. And I'm confident because I know the bonds between America and our friends in Asia will never be broken.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Workers cleaning the White House in Washington, while President Bush in out of town in Asia, bring their mechanical lift down, Thursday, August 7, 2008, as a lightning thunder storm moved through the area.
Hi
Hi
President George W. Bush makes remarks at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok August 7, 2008. Just hours before flying to Beijing for the Olympics on Thursday, Bush used some of his bluntest language yet in publicly pressing China to improve its human rights record
A girl greets U.S. President George W. Bush as he visits The Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre in Bangkok's largest slum, Klong Toey, in Bangkok August 7, 2008
A woman greets U.S. President George W. Bush as he visits The Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre in Bangkok's largest slum, Klong Toey, in Bangkok August 7, 2008
Nancy Chaimontri gives thanks to President Bush for signing her painting as he visits the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
President Bush talks with Itthipol Thongjan while looking at his drawing as he visits the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
President Bush pats the head of Itthipol Thongjan while looking at his drawing as he visits the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
President Bush poses for a photo with children and staff as he visits the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Second from right, in back row is Father Joseph Maier and second left in back row is executive director Usanee Janngeon
President George W. Bush (seated 2nd R) visits The Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre in Bangkok's largest slum, Klong Toey, in Bangkok August 7, 2008
President Bush watches traditional dancers as he sits with Father Joseph Maier while visiting the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
President Bush hugs a child after a group of children performed a song during his visit the Mercy Centre of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
President Bush makes remarks with activists from Myanmar, also known as Burma, at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Left to right are Lway Aye Naing, President Bush, Aung Zaw and Win Min.
President Bush makes remarks with activists from Myanmar, also known as Burma, at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Right of the President, speaking, is Aung Zaw.
President George W Bush (left) shakes hands with Myanmar activist Aung Zaw, editor of the Irrawaddy magazine, during a lunch with Burmese activists at the US ambassador's residence in Bangkok on August 7, 2008
First Lady Laura Bush (centre) talks with Karen refugees during a visit to Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai-Myanmar border on August 7, 2008. Mrs Bush visited a clinic and Myanmar refugees on the border, where more than 120,000 civilians who have fled brutal junta crackdowns on ethnic rebel armies live in cramped camps.
First Lady Laura Bush receives a traditional scarf from a Karen refugee during a visit to Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai-Myanmar border on August 7, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush, right, looks at her daughter Barbara, left, who is presented with a scarf by a Karen refugee during her visit to Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush, left, is led by Dr. Cynthia Maung, right, a Myanmar activist and founder of the Mae Tao clinic which provides free treatment for the sick and wounded Myanmar migrant workers at the clinic office in Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush, center top, talks with a nurse at Mae Tao clinic which provides free treatment for the sick and wounded Myanmar migrant workers in Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
First lady Laura Bush, center left, is flanked by her daughter Barbara as she talks with a Karen refugees family at Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. The camp houses thousands of refugees from Myanmar who fled the economic hardship and widespread persecution. Mrs. Bush with her daughter are in Thailand and are with President George W. Bush for a three-nation Asian tour that included South Korea and China.
I’m here and I got your Freepmail.
Thank you to you and SNUGS tonight for all your hard work bringing us the Dose!
First lady Laura Bush joins a class room with Karen refugees during her visit to Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. The first lady met with refugees who fled a brutal campaign by Myanmar's military junta, urged China and other countries to join the United States in imposing sanctions against the country. The camp houses thousands of refugees from Myanmar.
First Lady Laura Bush (C) visits an artificial leg shop at The Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot. Bush, a vocal critic of Myanmar's junta, toured a refugee camp on Thursday and called on the military regime to open dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition
A Karen dancing troupe performs in front of U.S. first fady Laura Bush, second left, with her daughter Barbara, left, during her visit to Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
Hi snugs. Now that my life is starting to get back to normal, I’ll be checking in on the Dose more often. Thanks for the ping to today’s edition. :)
First lady Laura Bush, left, bids farewell to Dr. Cynthia Maung, a Myanmar activist and founder of the Mae Tao clinic which provides free treatment for the sick and wounded Myanmar migrant workers in Mae Sot town near the Thai-Myanmar border Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
Nice to see you Wolfstar!
First lady Laura Bush and daughter Barbara Bush arrive at a military airport in Bangkok, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008 to leave Thailand with President George W. Bush for China to attend Olympics opening ceremony
President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave to well-wishers at a military airport in Bangkok Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008 as they leave Thailand for China to attend Olympics opening ceremony.
Great photos. I like many things about Asian cultures, but one of the things I like best is that they revere their elderly people. Their elderly remain very much a vital part of society instead of being shunted aside like they all-too-often are here. Other than our own parents (sometimes), we often treat the elderly almost as an alien species instead of examples of the road we’ll all travel if we live long enough.
Same here, NordP.
President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and their daughter Barbara Bush arrive in Beijing, China, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
Although I don't often post here, but I do look at the pictures of my favorite President's activities and so thank all of you who take the time to provide us w/this daily pleasure. Thank you so much.
President Bush arrives in Beijing, China, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
President George W. Bush (C) is greeted by and shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi upon his arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport. Bush arrived in Beijing Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games after raising fresh concerns about China's attitude towards human rights.
President Bush (L), first lady Laura Bush (2nd R) and daughter Barbara (R) are greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd L) at Beijing Capital International Airport August 7, 2008
Hi and congratulations on your toaster win - a note to other winners I will be doing those either tomorrow or Saturday I had hoped to do them tonight but there were so many photos that I ran out of time.
My pleasure Dolly hope you have a good bath
President George W. Bush embraces Usanee Janngeon, Executive Director of Mercy Centre, during a tour upon his arrival Thursday, August 7, 2008, to The Human Development Foundation-Mercy Center, a non-profit organization to help educate and improve the health and welfare of poor children in Bangkok. The tour was led by Father Joe Maier, Director of The Human Development Center of Mercy Centre, left. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush participates in a tour upon his arrival to The Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre, a non-profit organization to help educate and improve the health and welfare of poor children in Bangkok Thursday, August 7, 2008. President Bush was led on his tour by the Director of The Human Development Center of Mercy Centre, Father Joe Maier and Executive Director Usanee Janngeon. White House photo by Eric Draper
Many thanks for your help much appreciated
President George W. Bush participates in a roundtable radio interview concerning Burma Thursday, August 7, 2008, at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Bangkok. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush attends a briefing on the Cyclone Nargis disaster relief efforts in Burma, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008 at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Bangkok, being briefed by Olivier Carduner, Mission Director of the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia, second from right; Bill Berger, Activing Senior Regional Advisor for the USAID Cyclone Nargis Disaster Assistance Response Team, right, and joined by Col. Al Swanda, Chief Joint US Military Group Thailand, left and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Eric John. The ruling junta in Burma has been hesitant in accepting aid efforts since the disaster, where the cyclone death toll reportly nears 100,000 victims. White House photo by Eric Draper
Mrs. Laura Bush and her daughter Ms. Barbara Bush go over information on the plane as they fly to Thailand on Aug. 7, 2008. The visit highlighted the problems facing the Burmese refugees living inside the Thailand border in nine refugee camps. It has been 20 years since the Aug. 8, 1988 crackdown in Burma. Since 2005 alone, a little over 30,000 Burmese have moved to the United States to find a home and escape the dire conditions. White House photo by Shealah Craighead
My pleasure and sorry you are feeling a bit under the weather
Mrs. Laura Bush is greeted as she prepares to enter a school at the Mae La Refugee Camp in Mae Sot, Thailand, where an English grammar class is being taught. Her Aug. 7, 2008 visit to the camp which houses at least 39,000 Burmese refugees, highlighted the plight of a people who have struggled since the Aug. 8, 1988 crackdown that created dire conditions in their country 20 years ago. Many have moved on to the United States or other countries such as Canada, New Zealand or the Netherlands. Mrs. Bush encouraged other countries to help the Burmese as well. White House photo by Shealah Craighead
Mrs. Laura Bush watches as an English student works at the chalkboard of a grammar class at the Mae La Refugee Camp in Mae Sot, Thailand, on Aug. 7, 2008. The English lesson on the chalkboard uses the sentence to discuss compound sentence structure: "My life in refugee is better than Burma but I don't have opportunity to go outside of my camp. The visit to the camp in Mae Sot, Thailand, highlighted the fact that it has been 20 years since the crackdown in Burma that sent many people fleeing the dire conditions. Many residents have been born in one of the nine camps along the border or have lived most of their lives there. White House photo by Shealah Craighead
Great to see we have all missed you and look forward to you checking in more regularly. Good to hear that life is starting to get back to some sort of normality :o)
President George W. Bush delivers remarks at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center Thursday, August 7, 2008, in Bangkok. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush gestures as he delivers remarks at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center Thursday, August 7, 2008, in the Bangkok. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
President George W. Bush delivers remarks at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center Thursday, August 7, 2008, in Bangkok. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
President George W. Bush poses for a photo with children and staff members, including Father Joseph Maier, during his visit Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, to the Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre, a non-profit organization to help educate and improve the health and welfare of poor children in Bangkok.
President George W. Bush visits with children on August 7, 2008, in Bangkok at the Human Development Foundation - Mercy Centre, a non-profit organization which helps the children and communities of the many slums of Bangkok. The group builds and operates schools, works on issues concerning family health and welfare – such as protecting street children's rights and combating AIDS. The President followed the event by dealing with the issues of Burmese disaster relief and meeting with Burmese activists and media before heading to China. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
President George W. Bush visits with children on August 7, 2008, in Bangkok at the Human Development Foundation - Mercy Centre, a non-profit organization which helps the children and communities in the slums of Bangkok. The group builds and operates schools, works on issues concerning family health and welfare. The President followed the event by dealing with the issues of Burmese disaster relief and meeting with Burmese activists and media before heading to China. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
President George W. Bush connects with children at the Human Development Foundation - Mercy Centre in Bangkok on August 7, 2008. The non-profit group helps residents of the slums of Bangkok by building and operating schools and working on family health and welfare issues, such as AIDS and street children's rights. After visiting the school, President Bush participated in a briefing on disaster relief efforts in Burma at the Ambassador's residence and then met with Burmese activists and media before heading to China. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are greeted by China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, upon their arrival Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, at Beijing Capitol International Airport in Beijing, where they will attend the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games on Friday. White House photo by Eric Draper
We tend to expect people to retire at 65 at the latest though many of my generation will be forced to go to 67 in order to get our company pensions. In fact many people retire at 60 - 62.
Also I would say our senior politicians tend to be younger than yours in Britain Obama would not be considered that young, inexperienced but not that young.
Have a good night and give Dad a hug for me!
Have a good night and give Dad a hug for me!
Not a problem snugs. Now you go back to bed so the Christmas cakes you are making turn out yummy and beautiful as always.
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