U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

The White House

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 7, 2008

Remarks by the President in Roundtable Interview with Radio Media on Burma

Ambassador's Residence
Bangkok, Thailand

1:38 P.M. (Local)

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Q: There's no real consensus on how to deal with Burma in international community. How will the United States try to overcome this impasse, most recently seen at the Security Council over Burma?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, what we've got to do is continue to work with countries on the Security Council and explain to them that what matters most in life is the human condition, and that individual rights are important. And we just have a lot of work to do to convince people that the status quo in Burma -- that life can be better, let me put it that way. And it's in their interest that life is better, particularly China. China is an important country on the United Nations Security Council, they're an important country in the world; obviously Burma's neighbor. And we -- I hope that I can use my good relations with the Chinese leadership to convince them that the way forward is for there to be more civic participation, more citizen participation in the future of the country, and that the perfect way to do that is to explain to them how backward the government was when it came to the response for the natural disaster. Hopefully that will open up eyes.

But no question there's a lot of diplomacy that needs to be done to convince others that people like Aung Suu San Kyi [sic] deserve to be free, and political prisoners ought to be free. And the reason I'm talking to you today is because I want those in prison and their families to know that we care about them and think about them.

Q: Do you think there will be some common ground that the United States and Chinese government can work together?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope so. I mean, it's in the common ground, for example, that the Burmese be a peaceful country. I mean, we care about that. Whether or not the Chinese will agree that somebody like Aung Suu San Kyi [sic] ought to be free and ought to be the center of foreign policy like it is for us, I don't know. We just have to work it hard.

Q: Soe Win Than, from BBC. Picking up on this China relation, you are going to China today --

THE PRESIDENT: I am soon.

Q: -- you will be meeting the highest Chinese leadership tomorrow.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q: -- and you said you would mention Burma to those leaders. You haven't been able to convince them until now.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q: How optimistic are you that you will be able to convince, and how are you going to go about doing this time, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, look, it's -- I've mentioned Burma a lot to the Chinese leadership and it's -- I've mentioned Darfur, I've mentioned Tibet, I've mentioned religious freedom inside China. So there's a lot of subjects to discuss with the Chinese leadership. And it's just a matter of continuing to make the case. I have -- I'm sure the Chinese leader's mind is going to be on the Olympics. This is a big deal for the people of China. One of the reasons I'm going is to be able to pay my respects to the people of China, and well as to be in a position where I can bring up these issues with the Chinese government.

We'll see. I'm just -- it's -- to me, this is a process of continually having a consistent message, speaking to the people of Burma, letting the prisoners know we care about them, and pressing hard at the international level. I make no promises to your listeners except that we'll continue to try.

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Q: You're talking to the China authorities. Do you think China can play a role to make situation better in Burma?

THE PRESIDENT: I think -- oh, yes, I think China could play a different role. I do. The question is whether they want to or not. And so I'll -- I will bring up the Burma -- Burmese issue again to President Hu Jintao -- who I like. He's an easy man to talk to. And they just got different interests at times from the United States. And so I've got to work hard to see if I can't convince him that we share the same goals. It's not going to be easy, but I'll try to do so.

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END

2:05 P.M. (Local)