Secretary Hillary Clinton and Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu delivered these remarks in Bangkok, Thailand

Moderator. The Honorable Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, and His Excellency, Mr. Korbsak Sabhavasu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. We invite His Excellency to give a press statement first. Please.

Deputy Prime Minister Sabhavasu. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, member of the press, today we are very pleased to welcome Secretary Clinton. Secretary Clinton and Mr. Prime Minister just had very fruitful discussions on bilateral issues and other matters of mutual interest. Foreign Minister Kasit is in Phuket today for the ASEAN minister meeting. So as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, I'm honored to be here with Secretary Clinton.

I'd like to say a few words before passing on to Madame Secretary. As you know, Thailand and United States have been friends for over 176 years. Our relationship has always been blessed with cordiality and understanding. At the meeting, Prime Minister Abhisit briefed Secretary Clinton on the political development in Thailand, also, as well as on the government policies. Mr. Prime Minister stated that despite the global economic downturn, Thailand still remains attractive for foreign investment.

The government remains committed to the promotion and facilitation of foreign trade and investment, and indeed, stands ready to engage in consultation with the private sector. Prime Minister Abhisit also stressed the importance that the government attaches to the intellectual property rights and the continuation of the GSP program for Thai exports to the U.S. market.

As the current chair of ASEAN, Prime Minister Abhisit is pleased with the U.S. decision to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Secretary Clinton and all ASEAN foreign ministers will sign the treaty tomorrow in Phuket. This reflects the U.S. intention to engage more deeply with ASEAN, a gesture Thailand strongly welcomes.

Prime Minister Abhisit also conveys his warm regards to Secretary Clinton, to the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama. That's about all I have to say. And I invite Secretary Clinton to say a few words.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you so much, Minister. And I appreciate this opportunity to be here. It gives me great joy to return to Thailand. I have very fond memories of my previous visits. And I am looking forward to working together with the Government and people of Thailand to achieve greater progress and prosperity in this region and beyond.

I bring greetings from President Obama and a message as well from the American people: We are committed to a broader, stronger, and deeper relationship with Thailand. We are, as the minister said, historic treaty allies. We are fellow democracies, we are strategic partners, and above all, we are friends. Our friendship has stood the test of time—more than 175 years. And I'm confident that it will stand the tests of the 21st century.

The prime minister and I just had a very productive conversation about how we can confront our shared challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Thailand is a regional leader in a part of the world that is of great economic and strategic importance. It has played a key role as the chair of ASEAN in leading preparations for our meetings in Phuket tomorrow, and advancing constructive positions on regional issues affecting Burma and North Korea.

I know that Thailand is facing its own challenges, but the United States is confident that the Thai people can work through these challenges in a way that upholds this country's constitutional principles and democratic traditions. You can count on us as your friend to work with you as you resolve differences, pursue reconciliation, and find a path forward. Our friendship is built on the strength of our alliance. Our bilateral and multilateral exercises here in Thailand enhance our capacity to respond to threats and humanitarian crises in the region. And Thailand's extensive support for the United States military forces is critical to our global operations.

The prime minister and I also discussed the strides that we are making together on a range of global issues, from the work of our doctors and researchers to find cures for some of the world's deadliest diseases, to our law enforcement cooperation to stem the flow of illegal drugs, to our shared commitment to end the scourge of human trafficking, and to our decades-long partnership to alleviate the suffering of refugees, an issue that will continue to demand our attention.

But the relationships between our two countries and our two governments is ultimately shaped by the ties between our two peoples. We have a thriving trade and investment partnership that increases jobs and enhances prosperity. Tens of thousands of Thais, including the minister, have studied in the United States over the past century, including the minister, have studied in the United States over the past century, including the father of His Majesty the King, and a growing number of Americans are coming to live, work, and study right here in Thailand. These interactions and exchanges make our partnership even more durable, and we look forward to expanding them.

So we have a full and formidable agenda. And as I said in a speech last week, we are counting on our bedrock treaty alliances, such as we have with Thailand, to help us chart a very positive peaceful and progressive course into the future. There's much we can do to achieve that for our two nations. And I look forward to working with you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

Moderator. May I now invite the members of the press to answer—to ask some questions, beginning with Washington Post, Mr. Kessler.

Q. Madame Secretary, it is widely documented that young ethnic girls in Burma have been the—subject to extensive sexual violence at the hands of the Burmese military included repeated gang rapes orchestrated by officers. The latest military offensive against the Karen has sent 4,000 refugees across the Thai border. Are you going to tell your ASEAN partners that Burma is a threat to regional security or do you think it is worth waiting for signs of improved behavior by the junta?

And to the deputy prime minister, there have been new photographs of vast tunnels built by North Korea in Burma. How concerned are you about the growing ties between North Korea and Burma, including signs of nuclear cooperation? Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. Let me begin by saying that we are deeply concerned by the reports of continuing human rights abuses within Burma, and particularly by actions that are attributed to the Burmese military concerning the mistreatment and abuse of young girls. This is part of an ongoing policy review that we are engaged in, in our own country, and it's true that our results are on hold pending the outcome of the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. But we are very much engaged with partners, such as Thailand and others, in assessing and determining not only what is going on inside Burma, but also what we can do effectively to change the direction and behavior of the Burmese leadership.

We have worked directly and through our partners to press Burma to implement the Resolution 1874 concerning North Korea's actions. We've made it clear that we expect fair treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and we have condemned the way that she has been treated by the regime in Burma, which we consider to be baseless and totally unacceptable. We've worked with Thailand and others to address the needs of the Karen people that have been displaced by the attacks by the Burmese military and the ongoing violence which is a terrible abuse of their human rights.

Now, we know that there are also growing concerns about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously. It would be destabilizing for the region. It would pose a direct threat to Burma's neighbors. And it is something, as a treaty ally of Thailand, that we are taking very seriously.

Our position is that we are willing to have a more productive partnership with Burma if they take steps that are self-evident—end the violence against their own people, including the minorities that they have been focused on in the last months, end the mistreatment of Aung San Suu Kyi, end the political prisoners in detention who have been rounded up by the government, and other steps that Burma knows it could take.

So your question was a narrow one, but it raises all of the range of concerns that we are focused on in trying to determine how best to deal with Burma going forward.

Deputy Prime Minister Sabhavasu. As for Thailand, the Burmese situation and North Korea is quite different as far as we are concerned. The fact is that we are just next to Burma and the decisions that we have been making is that we want to make sure that we follow through the United Nations resolutions. Mr. Prime Minister and Secretary Clinton had discussions this evening. I think we basically almost just about share the same thought and idea about how to solve this problem.

Q. A member of the Thai press has just asked, following your visit here to Thailand, there's been a press report from Washington Post regarding the treatment of suspected terrorists by the CIA, and the presence of secret prisons in Thailand. And what would be your view on this and whether there has been an investigation of this matter?

Secretary Clinton. Well, I do not comment on intelligence matters for obvious reasons. But I want to underscore the importance of my visit today to emphasize the very broad and deep relationship that we have with Thailand. It has been a very positive one, I think for both the Thai people and the American people. And I would only note that President Obama has made it very clear that his Administration and our country are committed to fulfilling the values and founding principles and high standards that the United States has consistently stood for.

Moderator. Washington Times, I believe, Mr. Kralev.

Q. Thank you, Mr. Spokesman. Madame Secretary, I have two questions. The first one is as North Korean send only official level delegates to attend the meeting, so what kind of commitment or what level of engagement do you expect from them and what's your message to them in this meeting? The—sorry—the second question is: What is your real reason to participate this regional convention? Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Well, my real reason is—first of all, it's held in Thailand, which is a very attractive reason. But it is because on behalf of our country and the Obama Administration, I want to send a very clear message that the United States is back, that we are fully engaged and committed to our relationships in Southeast Asia, that we want to resume and strengthen our very strong alliances and friendships, we want new partnerships, and it is an important part of our overall approach to participate in ASEAN, which is an essential organization, cofounded by, among others, Thailand to bring the countries of Southeast Asia together. And we think there are many important undertakings that we could explore.

We're very pleased that the United States had a role in helping to organize the first exercise on disaster assistance, recently held in the Philippines. There are so many ways that we can take ASEAN to the next level, sort of ASEAN 2.0, if you will, where it goes in the future.

I also committed, when I was in Indonesia in Jakarta at the headquarters for ASEAN, that we would sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and so tomorrow we will do so. And I think that it is a very strong statement on behalf of our Administration that the United States intends to be a very active presence in the region bilaterally, as with a friend and ally like Thailand, and multilaterally through organizations like ASEAN.

I have heard what you have heard, that there will be representatives from North Korea at the meeting tomorrow. I do not have any plans or intend to meet with them. But obviously, they will be part of the same meeting that I and my delegation will be attending. And my message is the same that I have delivered here, that we think there is a different path for North Korea to follow, that there is an opportunity which is theirs for the taking. But they have to be willing to change their behavior and agree to denuclearize North Korea, which will mean that the entire Korean Peninsula is denuclearized. And we stand ready to respond if we get any signal that there would be a serious commitment to doing that.

Moderator. Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the press conference. Thank you very much.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much.

Deputy Prime Minister Sabhavasu. Thank you.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in Phuket, Thailand

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you very much. This is a wonderful day for the United States, and it is fitting that we meet here in Thailand for this important ASEAN ministerial. Now in February 1976, the five original nations of ASEAN, including Thailand, met in Indonesia in Bali to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. And that agreement had a very noble purpose: To promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their peoples, which would contribute to the strength, solidarity and closer relationship among them.

Since then, 25 nations have entered the treaty. Now it has taken many years for the United States to reach this point; but today, at long last, I am honored to sign on behalf of the American people. The original signers of the treaty recognize that the challenges they faced were so great that the only way to solve them was together. Well, the same is true today. Indeed, some of the goals outlined in the treaty—such as ending violent conflict, improving agriculture, advancing economic development—are goals that we are still striving to achieve. And in the spirit of this treaty, the United States is committed to working toward those goals and the other ones that have been adopted by ASEAN through partnership as part of our commitment to Southeast Asia.

Amity, as we know, does not mean absolute agreement. There have been times in the past when we have disagreed, and there are sure to be more in the future. But this treaty reflects our commitment to an honest and open dialogue to help us navigate our differences and reach consensus whenever possible.

The treaty makes official the bonds of family and friendship that have long existed between our nations. So on this historic occasion, we will build on that past, while looking ahead to a more peaceful, progressive, and prosperous future for the nations of ASEAN and for the United States and, through our cooperation and partnership, the greater region and the world.

So thank you very much for this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to this important relationship.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in Phuket, Thailand

Secretary Clinton. Good afternoon. Let me begin by saying how delighted I am to be here in Phuket for meetings with the nations of ASEAN and its partners throughout the region. This visit to the ASEAN Regional Forum follows my February trip to Jakarta and my visit to the ASEAN secretariat, where I stressed America's commitment to strengthen our presence and engagement in this region. I said then that I would attend this ministerial, and that we would begin the process of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and that we will build a deeper and more dynamic partnership with ASEAN.

And that is why I am here today. The United States is back in Southeast Asia. President Obama and I believe that this region is vital to global progress, peace, and prosperity, and we are fully engaged with our ASEAN partners on the wide range of challenges confronting us, from regional and global security to the economic crisis to human rights and climate change.

After this, I will have the honor of signing, on behalf of the United States, the Instrument of Accession to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. This treaty seals our commitment to work in partnership with the nations of ASEAN to advance the interests and values we share.

I am also proud to announce that the United States intends to open a U.S. mission to ASEAN headed by an ambassador in Jakarta in the very near future. I have instructed my staff to begin consultations with the ASEAN secretariat, the Indonesian Government, and the United States Congress on the steps needed to open such a mission. As a first step, we will shortly assign an experienced diplomat to Jakarta to work with ASEAN on this effort.

Tomorrow, I will host the first ever ministerial meeting between the United States and the countries of the Lower Mekong— Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand—to discuss our shared interests and our emerging partnership on issues related to water, health, and the environment.

I would also like to announce the Obama Administration's commitment to deepen our engagement in Asia on the critical issue of climate change. We have asked the United States Congress for a seven-fold increase in our USAID climate change funding for this region. And we are planning to launch a new regional climate change initiative to support cuttingedge research and scale up investments in innovative climate change and development solutions in Asia, especially Southeast Asia. We will ask for a high-level dialogue on climate change within ASEAN so that together, we can help the world confront the threat of a warming planet and a transition to a clean energy future.

These steps are important because Southeast Asia and ASEAN are critically important to our future. ASEAN's ten members host nearly 600 million people, including two of our treaty allies and the world's third-largest democracy, which just completed very successful elections in Indonesia. The region is our sixth-largest export market, hosts more U.S. business investment than China, and straddles critically important shipping lanes.

So ASEAN is a region of great diversity where people of different backgrounds, religions, and every other diversity of the human experience are working to build a community. Just this week, ASEAN agreed on the outlines of a human rights body that can help promote the values we share with many of ASEAN's member countries, and hopefully contribute to positive change in Burma.

On a personal note, let me say how shocked and saddened I was by the vicious terrorist attacks in Indonesia last week. We stand by Indonesia in these difficult times and we celebrate their successful election and the vibrancy of their democracy. The Obama Administration is proud to embark on a sustained, comprehensive partnership with Indonesia. And it will span all aspects of our relationship— diplomatic, political, strategic, cultural and so much else. I am convinced this partnership will yield very positive results.

So these are all important steps that the United States wants to take with our ASEAN partners, and to encourage ASEAN as it moves down the path it has set for itself. I also wanted to take this opportunity to talk about my meetings with the foreign ministers of our partners in the Six-Party process. We discussed the need for a vigorous, unified, and transparent implementation of Security Council Resolution 1874. We consulted on the steps that we are taking individually and the actions that we can take in concert to enforce the financial measures, the arms embargo, the inspection provisions, and other elements in the resolution.

All four of the other foreign ministers agreed that full implementation is important to demonstrate unanimity and resolve in the face of North Korean provocations, and to make clear that complete and irreversible denuclearization is the only viable path for North Korea. We do not intend to reward North Korea just for returning to the table, nor do we intend to reward them for actions they have already committed to taking and then reneged on. The path is open to them, and it is up to them to follow it. Unless and until they do, they will face international isolation and the unrelenting pressure of global sanctions.

Thank you all very much.

Q. Hello. Do you think that the ASEAN should kick out Burmese Government from the regional organization— ASEAN membership? And do you— don't you have any idea to talk to Burmese Government directly? Because you have a opportunity to talk to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam tomorrow. Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. ASEAN and the ASEAN countries are moving in a very positive direction. The increased emphasis on human rights that ASEAN is committed to exploring is very welcome.

Burma is moving in the opposite direction of the other ASEAN countries. And we have been very clear in stating that the United States would like to see changes in the behavior of the regime in Burma, and we think other countries in the region would as well.

I spoke at length yesterday in Bangkok about the concerns that are being expressed about cooperation between North Korea and Burma in the pursuit of offensive weapons, perhaps even including nuclear weapons at some point. So there are lots of issues that Burma raises for the entire region, not just the United States.

I think it's important to encourage the Burmese leadership to begin to open up, to pursue the model that other ASEAN countries are following. And we have called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, which we believe is very important. It's so critical that she be released from this persecution that she has been under. And if she were released, that would open up opportunities, at least for my country, to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma. But it is up to the Burmese leadership.

And we can only hope that perhaps in the conversations that are occurring between many other countries and representatives of Burma here today, there will be progress in persuading the Burmese leadership to change direction. So it is a matter of obvious interest and concern to the United States, but we have to see some evidence that Burma is willing to make these changes and take these actions.

And with respect to ASEAN and what ASEAN might do with Burma, that is, of course, up to ASEAN itself. But we should stay focused on trying to convince the Burmese leadership that they have a better future by moving away from isolation and treating their own people better and giving their people a chance to have a true election next year that will help to chart a new course for the people of Burma.

Thank you all very much.

President Barack Obama delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. Thank you. Good morning. It is a great honor to welcome you to the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between the United States and China. This is an essential step in advancing a positive, constructive, and comprehensive relationship between our countries. I'm pleased that President Hu shares my commitment to a sustained dialogue to enhance our shared interests.

President Hu and I both felt that it was important to get our relationship off to a good start. Of course, as a new President and also as a basketball fan, I have learned from the words of Yao Ming, who said, “No matter whether you are new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another.” Well, through the constructive meetings that we've already had, and through this dialogue, I'm confident that we will meet Yao's standard.

I want to acknowledge the remarkable American and Chinese leaders who will co-chair this effort. Hillary Clinton and Tim Geithner are two of my closest advisors, and they have both obtained extraordinary experience working with China. And I know that they will have extremely capable and committed Chinese counterparts in State Councilor Dai and Vice Premier Wang. Thank you very much for being here.

I'm also looking forward to the confirmation of an outstanding U.S. Ambassador to China, Governor Jon Huntsman, who is here today. Jon has deep experience living and working in Asia, and— unlike me—he speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. He also happens to be a Republican who co-chaired Senator McCain's campaign. And I think that demonstrates Jon's commitment to serving his country, and the broad, bipartisan support for positive and productive relations between the United States and China. So thank you, Jon, for your willingness to serve.

Today, we meet in a building that speaks to the history of the last century. It houses a national memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, a man who held office when the 20th century was still young, and America's leadership in the world was emerging. It is named for Ronald Reagan, a man who came of age during two World Wars, and whose presidency helped usher in a new era of history. And it holds a piece of the Berlin Wall, a decades-long symbol of division that was finally torn down, unleashing a rising tide of globalization that continues to shape our world.

One hundred years ago—in the early days of the 20th century—it was clear that there were momentous choices to be made—choices about the borders of nations and the rights of human beings. But in Woodrow Wilson's day, no one could have foreseen the arc of history that led to a wall coming down in Berlin, nor could they have imagined the conflict and upheaval that characterized the years in between. For people everywhere—from Boston to Beijing—the 20th century was a time of great progress, but that progress also came with a great price.

Today, we look out on the horizon of a new century. And as we launch this dialogue, it's important for us to reflect upon the questions that will shape the 21st century. Will growth be stalled by events like our current financial crisis, or will we cooperate to create balanced and sustainable growth, lifting more people out of poverty and creating a broader prosperity around the world? Will the need for energy breed competition and climate change, or will we build partnerships to produce clean power and to protect our planet? Will nuclear weapons spread unchecked, or will we forge a new consensus to use this power for only peaceful purposes? Will extremists be able to stir conflict and division, or will we unite on behalf of our shared security? Will nations and peoples define themselves solely by their differences, or can we find common ground necessary to meet our common challenges, and to respect the dignity of every human being?

We can't predict with certainty what the future will bring, but we can be certain about the issues that will define our times. And we also know this. The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world. That really must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility that together we bear.

As we look to the future, we can learn from our past—for history shows us that both our nations benefit from engagement that is grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect. During my time in office, we will mark the 40th anniversary of President Nixon's trip to China. At that time, the world was much different than it is today. America had fought three wars in East Asia in just 30 years, and the Cold War was in a stalemate. China's economy was cut off from the world, and a huge percentage of the Chinese people lived in extreme poverty.

Back then, our dialogue was guided by a narrow focus on our shared rivalry with the Soviet Union. Today, we have a comprehensive relationship that reflects the deepening ties among our people. Our countries have now shared relations for longer than we were estranged. Our people interact in so many ways. And I believe that we are poised to make steady progress on some of the most important issues of our times.

My confidence is rooted in the fact that the United States and China share mutual interests. If we advance those interests through cooperation, our people will benefit and the world will be better off— because our ability to partner with each other is a prerequisite for progress on many of the most pressing global challenges.

Let me name some of those challenges. First, we can cooperate to advance our mutual interests in a lasting economic recovery. The current crisis has made it clear that the choices made within our borders reverberate across the global economy—and this is true not just in New York and Seattle, but in Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well. That is why we must remain committed to strong bilateral and multilateral coordination. And that is the example we have set by acting aggressively to restore growth, to prevent a deeper recession and to save jobs for our people.

Going forward, we can deepen this cooperation. We can promote financial stability through greater transparency and regulatory reform. We can pursue trade that is free and fair, and seek to conclude an ambitious and balanced Doha Round agreement. We can update international institutions so that growing economies like China play a greater role that matches their greater responsibility. And as Americans save more and Chinese are able to spend more, we can put growth on a more sustainable foundation—because just as China has benefited from substantial investment and profitable exports, China can also be an enormous market for American goods.

Second, we can cooperate to advance our mutual interest in a clean, secure, and prosperous energy future. The United States and China are the two largest consumers of energy in the world. We are also the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. Let's be frank. Neither of us profits from a growing dependence on foreign oil, nor can we spare our people from the ravages of climate change unless we cooperate. Common sense calls upon us to act in concert.

Both of our countries are taking steps to transform our energy economies. Together we can chart a low carbon recovery; we can expand joint efforts at research and development to promote the clean and efficient use of energy; and we can work together to forge a global response at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and beyond. And the best way to foster the innovation that can increase our security and prosperity is to keep our markets open to new ideas, new exchanges, and new sources of energy.

Third, we can cooperate to advance our mutual interests in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Make no mistake. The more nations acquire these weapons, the more likely it is that they will be used. Neither America nor China has an interest in a terrorist acquiring a bomb, or a nuclear arms race breaking out in East Asia. That is why we must continue our collaboration to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and make it clear to North Korea that the path to security and respect can be traveled if they meet their obligations. And that is why we must also be united in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and urging the Islamic Republic to live up to its international obligations.

This is not about singling out any one nation—it is about the responsibility of all nations. Together, we must cooperate to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world, which will be a focus of our Global Nuclear Summit next year. And together, we must strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by renewing its basic bargain, countries with nuclear weapons will move towards disarmament; countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them; and all countries can access peaceful nuclear energy. A balance of terror cannot hold. In the 21st century, a strong and global regime is the only basis for security from the world's deadliest weapons.

And fourth, we can cooperate to advance our mutual interests in confronting transnational threats. The most pressing dangers we face no longer come from competition among great powers— they come from extremists who would murder innocents; from traffickers and pirates who pursue their own profits at the expense of others; from diseases that know no borders; and from suffering and civil wars that breed instability and terror. These are the threats of the 21st century. And that is why the pursuit of power among nations must no longer be seen as a zero-sum game. Progress—including security—must be shared.

Through increased ties between our militaries, we can diminish causes for dispute while providing a framework for cooperation. Through continued intelligence-sharing, we can disrupt terrorist plots and dismantle terrorist networks. Through early warning and coordination, we can check the spread of disease. And through determined diplomacy, we must meet our responsibility to seek the peaceful resolution of conflict—and that can begin with a renewed push to end the suffering in Darfur, and to promote a comprehensive peace in Sudan.

All of these issues are rooted in the fact that no one nation can meet the challenges of the 21st century on its own, nor effectively advance its interests in isolation. It is this fundamental truth that compels us to cooperate. I have no illusion that the United States and China will agree on every issue, nor choose to see the world in the same way. This was already noted by our previous speaker. But that only makes dialogue more important—so that we can know each other better, and communicate our concerns with candor.

For instance, the United States respects the progress that China has made by lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Just as we respect China's ancient and remarkable culture, its remarkable achievements, we also strongly believe that the religion and culture of all peoples must be respected and protected, and that all people should be free to speak their minds. And that includes ethnic and religious minorities in China, as surely as it includes minorities within the United States.

Support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America. Our nation is made up of immigrants from every part of the world. We have protected our unity and struggled to perfect our union by extending basic rights to all our people. And those rights include the freedom to speak your mind, to worship your God, and to choose your leaders. These are not things that we seek to impose— this is who we are. It guides our openness to one another and to the world.

China has its own distinct story that shapes its own worldview. And Americans know the richness of China's history because it helped to shape the world and it helped to shape America. We know the talent of the Chinese people because they have helped to create this great country. My own Cabinet contains two Chinese Americans. And we know that despite our differences, America is enriched through deeper ties with a country of 1.3 billion people that is at once ancient and dynamic—ties that can be forged through increased exchanges among our people, and constructive bilateral relations between our governments. That is how we will narrow our divisions.

Let us be honest. We know that some are wary of the future. Some in China think that America will try to contain China's ambitions; some in America think that there is something to fear in a rising China. I take a different view. And I believe President Hu takes a different view, as well. I believe in a future where China is a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations; a future when our nations are partners out of necessity, but also out of opportunity. This future is not fixed, but it is a destination that can be reached if we pursue a sustained dialogue like the one that you will commence today, and act on what we hear and what we learn.

Thousands of years ago, the great philosopher Mencius said: “A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time.” Our task is to forge a path to the future that we seek for our children— to prevent mistrust or the inevitable differences of the moment from allowing that trail to be blocked by grass; to always be mindful of the journey that we are undertaking together.

This dialogue will help determine the ultimate destination of that journey. It represents a commitment to shape our young century through sustained cooperation, and not confrontation. I look forward to carrying this effort forward through my first visit to China, where I hope to come to know better your leaders, your people, and your majestic country. Together, I'm confident that we can move steadily in the direction of progress, and meet our responsibility to our people and to the future that we will all share.

Thank you very much.

A New Strategic and Economic Dialogue with China

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary Timothy Geithner delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Q. How concerned are you about China's focus on the U.S. budget deficit, and what types of assurances did you give them about our efforts here to bring it down?

Secretary Geithner. Not concerned. In fact, we're in a very similar place. Again, in the face of this acute crisis we saw around the world sweep around the world last year, we have both put in place very powerful support for private demand recovery-type programs like you saw in the United States. China has done a very similar type approach. Our central banks have moved very aggressively to provide support, providing liquidity to markets.

That basic strategy, I think we agree, is the necessary path to recovery. But China, like the United States, understands that as we see recovery take hold, we're going to need to reverse those exceptional actions. And so as China will do, we in the United States will move to bring our fiscal deficits down over the medium term, and we will work to reverse the other exceptional actions we've had to take to stabilize the crisis. I think we're in a very similar position, shared strategy, much more in common than what separates on—us on broad strategy.

Q. Secretary Geithner, I noticed that U.S. agreed to take consideration on the influence of its monetary policy. Could you elaborate just a little bit? And how do you comment on the specific outcome of this dialogue? Thank you.

Secretary Geithner. I think the most important thing we achieved today was to agree on this broad framework for policies and reform, both China and the United States, to help lay the foundation for a more sustainable, more balanced global recovery. We want to be very careful, as we work together to help move the economy—global economy—back from crisis to growth, that we don't lay the seeds of future crises.

So as part of that—again, this is the critical thing—that as we move to raise private savings in the United States, as we move to bring down our fiscal deficit in the future, as we move to put in place a more stable, more resilient financial system in the United States, we need to see actions in China and in other countries to shift the source of growth more to domestic demand. Those are necessary complements; they have to work together. And I think that's the most important strategic achievement here, and it's critically important to the rest of the world. It's not something that China and the U.S. can do on their own, but unless we do it, it won't be possible for the rest of the world as well. So I'd emphasize that.

Now, of course, we both recognize that the policies we undertake in our own countries have big effects, significant effects, on the rest of the world. And we take the responsibilities that come with our role in the world very, very seriously. And we—this President of the United States, working with the Congress—will work very hard to make sure we build a stronger economy, a more productive economy, in the future. And then, as he said, once we are confident that recovery is firmly established, we will move to reverse these exceptional steps we've had to take to help address the crisis.

Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary Timothy Geithner, Councilor Dai Bingguo, and Vice Premier Wang Qishan delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Good afternoon. We have just finished a very thorough, intense, and productive two days. Secretary Geithner and I were honored to co-chair the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and we have been delighted to host Vice Premier Wang and State Councilor Dai and the entire Chinese delegation.

What has taken place over the past two days is unprecedented in U.S.-China relations. The meetings we have just concluded represent the largest gathering ever of top leaders from our two countries. The range of issues covered was unparalleled. And the result is that we have laid the foundation for a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century.

Our governments released a joint statement summarizing our discussions. During our meetings, we spoke candidly about some of the world's most difficult challenges. We agreed that further cooperation and action is needed to achieve global economic recovery, to promote stability in Northeast Asia, resume the Six-Party Talks, and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1874 to address ongoing threats of violent extremism and nuclear proliferation, to encourage Iran to live up to its international obligations, and to work toward peace and stability in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

We made progress in working toward the global nuclear security summit that President Obama has called for next spring. And I'm pleased to announce that we will be conducting U.S.-China talks on counterterrorism this fall. We agreed to a continuation and expansion of our military-to-military relations and to robust educational, cultural, scientific, and people-to-people diplomacy.

For our part, the United States was proud to reaffirm our participation in the Shanghai World Expo next year. And later this evening, we and our Chinese colleagues will participate in a dinner of American business leaders and citizens supporting that effort. In areas where we do not always agree, such as human rights, we had candid and respectful exchanges.

We also today, representing the world's two biggest producers and consumers of energy, completed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation on climate change, energy, and the environment. This MOU affirmed our commitment to reaching a successful international agreement on climate change and will expand our cooperation to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

These are just a few of the concrete discussions and achievements of this first Strategic and Economic Dialogue. It represents 30 years of progress, because in many ways, we are building on the work that has gone before and taking it to a new level. But sometimes, the most telling measures of progress are less tangible. Over the past two days, State Councilor Dai and I have spent many hours in discussion. We've had the opportunity to meet privately and to talk very openly between ourselves to try to understand each other's point of view. And I know the same is true for Secretary Geithner and Vice Premier Wang.

Our delegations have spent hours in consultation and negotiation, and we've not been limited to just the usual topic or two. We've enlisted partners from across our government to work across departments and bureaus and agencies to tackle these difficult challenges that we are facing together. Climate change and energy security, for example, is an economic issue, a diplomatic issue, a development issue, an energy issue, an environmental issue, an agricultural issue, and a national security issue all rolled into one. And so it must be addressed in its full complexity. We have made a good start on that and we look forward to continuing it in the future.

This dialogue has established a new pattern of cooperation between our governments and a forum for discussion. It's begun to develop a structure for moving forward on this range of issues. Now we know there's a lot of work ahead, but we began this process at the beginning of the Obama Administration for a purpose, because we knew it would take time and effort and patience, and we are willing and eager to continue.

Sunday night, the state councilor and I and a few of our aides were having dinner, and in the course of what was a very relaxed and social occasion, we were discussing our families. And State Councilor Dai informed us that he had a new grandson. As we began talking, we realized that all that we were doing was really on behalf of our children and our grandchildren. I said that perhaps at the beginning of every government dialogue, we should all take out pictures of our children and our grandchildren and put them on the tables in front of us to be reminded of what was at stake in our high-level negotiations. As State Councilor Dai said, those photos would remind us of the task ahead and of our responsibility to move forward and of the future we are trying to build.

We just finished meeting with President Obama and he expressed his appreciation to President Hu for working to set forth this dialogue, starting at their meeting in London. We are committed to taking the next steps on this journey together. And I thank our Chinese colleagues for a very important beginning. It is now my privilege to introduce Secretary Tim Geithner.

Secretary Geithner. A few highlights on the economic front: I want to begin by just underscoring the importance of the actions China and the United States have taken together to help bring the world economy back from the edge of the most acute crisis we've seen in decades, and to begin to lay the foundation for financial repair and global growth again.

We reached agreement today on a framework to lay the foundation for more sustainable and balanced growth between our two countries and globally going forward. And that framework rests on four critical areas of cooperation. First, we agreed that we would undertake macroeconomic and structural policies to lay the foundation for a more sustainable and balanced trajectory of growth.

In the United States, this means raising private savings. We've already seen a pretty substantial increase in private savings. Our current account and balance has fallen sharply. And the President has committed that as we put in place conditions for a durable recovery led by private demand, we will bring our fiscal position down to a more sustainable level over time.

We are making very substantial investments in improving public infrastructure, energy efficiency, improving the quality of education, healthcare reform—policy changes that will help rebuild the American economy on a firmer foundation going forward.

For China, this means rebalancing towards domestic demand-led growth and increasing the share of consumption relative to GDP. Policies to enable adjustment of demand and relative prices will help lead to more balanced trading growth, greater development of the service sector and the shift away from dependence on exports and heavy industry will have a powerful effect, not just on rebalancing the global economy, but supporting the transition to a more green economy.

Second area of cooperation is in the financial area. We agreed to work to build more resilient, more stable financial systems. Our challenges in this area are very different. In the United States, we need to put in place much stronger oversight with much stronger constraints on leverage, more conservative capital requirements applied more broadly across our financial system, to bring markets that are critical to credit and innovation, such as in the derivatives area under a framework of oversight, to give the government better tools, stronger tools to deal with, manage, limit the damage caused by future financial crises.

China, in contrast, is moving towards a more market-oriented financial system. And it's indicated in this—in our meetings today its intention to move forward with financial sector reform that'll help better allocate credit in—to reinforce this shift towards domestic demand. In this context, China will, of course, bring about further liberalization of interest rates, domestic interest rates, to promote the development of new financial products, open new opportunities for foreign participation in the financial sector, including allowing foreign banks to underwrite bonds in China's rapidly growing bond market.

Third area of cooperation is in the trade and investment area. We reaffirmed our very important commitment to open—an open, rules-based, multilateral regime for trade and investment. We reiterated our commitment to avoid protectionist measures to bring about a success—and to bring about a successful conclusion to the Doha round. China and the United States committed to treating firms with foreign ownership operating in our markets exactly as we do domestically owned firms when it comes to government procurement. We agreed to work together to facilitate Chinese accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, and China will increase the dollar threshold for foreign direct investments that must obtain central government approval.

Fourth and finally, China and the United States recognized the critical role of the international financial institutions in preventing future crises. The global economy has changed fundamentally since the Bretton Woods Institutions were created more than 50 years ago, and the global financial architecture has to adapt to reflect the new realities of this global economy.

So we have committed to work closely together to help reform these institutions, to make sure they have the resources to respond to future crises to help meet the economic and development needs of their members, and to bring about changes in the governing structure of these institutions to make sure China enjoys a level of participation that's commensurate with its substantial economic and financial weight in the world.

We look forward to building on this framework of cooperation. We look forward to continuing to intensify the very substantial progress we achieved today on this broad framework for cooperation. And I want to thank in particular Vice Premier Wang for his leadership and for his dedication to make this a productive relationship for both of us. Thank you very much.

I now give the floor to Vice Premier Wang.

Vice Premier Wang. Dear friends from the news media, good afternoon. Under the direct guidance of President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama, and through the concerted efforts of both sides, this round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues was a full success.

In the economic dialogue, the two sides focused on the main topic of the international financial crisis, acted in a spirit of cooperation, had in-depth discussion on strategic issues concerning the two economies, and produced many important results. The two sides recognized that at this crucial, critical time when the global economy is moving out of the crisis and toward recovery, to stimulate economic growth remains the top priority for China-U.S. cooperation. The two sides need to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, stabilize financial markets, and work to restore economic growth and create jobs.

At the same time, the two sides should actively transform economic growth patterns focused on restructuring, step up cooperation in such areas as healthcare reform and development of the social security system, and promote sustainable economic development. The two sides stated that they will strengthen cooperation to jointly build a strong financial system to ensure financial security and stability in the two countries and the world at large.

The U.S. side pledged to monitor closely the influence of its monetary policies on the U.S. economy and on the rest of the world, and to have strong oversight of the government-sponsored enterprises to ensure that they are able to meet their financial obligations. The two sides agreed to inform each other of their disposal of impaired financial assets on a regular basis.

The two sides stressed the importance to take strong measures to raise the level of economic cooperation and trade, and improve its quality. The U.S. side pledged to facilitate exports of high-technology products from the United States to China. The U.S. side is willing to step up cooperation with the Chinese side to work toward recognition of China's market economy status in an expeditious manner. The two sides will work together to support increasing investment in infrastructure, continue to advance negotiations on bilateral investment agreement, and enhance cooperation in trade finance.

China and the United States will work with the international community to implement the consensus of the G-20 summits in Washington and London, strengthen coordination, and ensure that the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh will deliver positive results. China and the United States will work together to promote the reform process of the international financial system and increase the voices and representation of emerging and developing countries.

The two sides stated that they are firmly opposed to protectionism in all forms and work for early success of the WTO Doha round negotiations on the basis of locking up the existing achievements. The two sides will see to it that the UN MDGs be met as scheduled. The success of the economic dialogue has lent fresh impetus to the development of the positive, cooperative, and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century. Thank you. I've been speaking so fast[] because I provided transcript and I want to save time.

To conclude, I wish to extend to Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner and the U.S. team that they lead my appreciation. And I want to thank, in particular, our friends from the media. Our dialogue, through your support, have been further advocated and you have helped us to put down some speculations. Any meeting in isolation of the media, its influence, will be greatly diminished. Talking about influence, there are positive ones and negative ones. There are accurate ones and sometimes not-so-accurate ones. It happens.

So with the help of the media, we are spreading information about what we are doing, and we need to bear the consequences and imperfections. I've been dealing with you—with the media for many years. Thank you for your support. Thank you.

State Councilor Dai. I would like to provide a piece of news. Just now, President Obama met us and he gave a basketball to Vice Premier Wang with his signature, and Vice Premier Wang hit it well while it's here.

Secretary Clinton. Do a spin.

State Councilor Dai. Dear friends from the press, I'm happy to meet you here. You all know that the China-U.S. S&ED—you know the story how it came into existence. That was decided by President Hu Jintao and President Obama during their meeting in London during the G-20 summit. They made the decision together to build such a mechanism. I think this is a continuation and development of the previous dialogues. It is also a creation.

How did the dialogues go? The three special representatives have said a lot and I would like to add a few things. I think the dialogues were successful. We discussed a wide range of issues except for going to the moon. Of course, we had our discussions openly, and I think the discussions are in-depth, broad, candid, and productive. What has happened proves and history will continue to prove in the future that the decision made by our two presidents to conduct such dialogues is absolutely right and important. Many years from now when we look back, we will understand better its importance.

In the future, I am looking forward to continuing our efforts together with the three special representatives with commitment and efforts of our two presidents to make our dialogues better. Of course, another important mission is to turn what we said into actions. This is more important.

And secondly, I wish to say that you can read the joint press release that is going to be provided very soon. The document talks about President Obama's upcoming visit to China within this year. And on the Chinese side, we will work together closely with the U.S. side to make good preparations to ensure that President Obama's visit will be made on schedule and will be very successful, that it will become a historic visit.

Thirdly, I wish to talk about, as you saw yesterday after the opening ceremony, President Obama made a very important speech. He talked about the China-U.S. relations. I suggest, my friends from the press, carefully read the script of President Obama's speech. In the past half year since the inauguration of the new Administration, the China-U.S. relations have set off to a good start and it has enjoyed a sound momentum of growth. China is ready to work together with the U.S. to stay firmly committed to building a China-U.S. positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relations for the 21st century so that we can bring benefits to our two peoples and our two countries and also the whole world, and to our children and children's children.

To ensure that our bilateral relationship will move forward on the track of long-term and sound development, a very important thing is that we need to support, respect, and understand each other, and to maintain our core interests. And for China, our concern is we must uphold our basic systems, our national security; and secondly, the sovereignty and territorial integrity; and thirdly, economic and social sustained development.

What I would like to say is that China and the United States, from the government, business communities, and to ordinary people, from the militaries and all walks of life, we must work together, and we can make China-U.S. relations enjoy an even more beautiful future.

Just now, as Vice Premier Wang said, the Chinese team is appreciative of what the American Government and our hosts have done. I would like to thank them for their gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. Especially, I would like to thank Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner for the tremendous efforts that were put into the dialogues. It was not easy. There is such a great number of participants. We talked about so many topics and such a huge number of government departments and ministries were involved and the dialogues were so in-depth, and all these were unprecedented in the past three decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

And I also wish to thank everyone who cares about and supports the growth of China-U.S. relationship, including our friends from the press. You have done a lot. Vice Premier Wang said that the role of the media organizations is very important. I believe you strongly boost—you can strongly boost relations between our two countries and promote friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples. Thank you very much.

President Barack Obama and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. Well, let me express my thanks and appreciation for the visit from President Arroyo. As we discussed during our meeting here and our delegations, the relationship between the United States and the Philippines dates back many years. It is a friendship that is forged not only in treaties and trade relationships and military relationships, but it is also strengthened by very personal ties that exist between our two countries. We are proud to have 4 million persons of Filipino ancestry contributing to our country each and every day, in all walks of life. The fact that we have Filipino veterans who have fought side by side with American soldiers on behalf of freedom—all those things have strengthened the relationship between our two countries.

I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on dealing with counterterrorism issues. She has initiated a peace process in Mindanao that we think is—has the potential to bring peace and stability to a part of the Philippines that has been wracked by unrest for too long. We are very grateful of the strong voice that the Philippines has provided in dealing with issues in Asia ranging from the human rights violations that have for too long existed in Burma to the problems that we're seeing with respect to nuclear proliferation in North Korea.

I am looking forward to my travels to Southeast Asia, and the Philippines will be the coordinating country in the U.S. relationship with ASEAN, the primary organization—strategic organization for Southeast Asian countries. And in addition, the Philippines will be sharing the Non-Proliferation Treaty conference that will be taking next—place next year.

And so we're going to have a busy agenda together working to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, improving the multilateral partnerships in Asia that can create greater security and greater prosperity for all countries. And in addition, we continue to be grateful for the outstanding contributions that the Philippines has made with respect to U.N. peacekeeping around the world.

So although the Philippines is not the largest of countries, it, in using a phrase from boxing, punches above its weight in the international arena, and we are very grateful that President Arroyo has visited us here today, and we are looking forward to using this meeting as a way of launching even greater cooperation between our two countries in the years to come.

President Arroyo. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for inviting me to have this very important conversation here in the White House.

The U.S. is very essential to the economic, diplomatic, and national security of our country. We are very thankful for the U.S. as an important ally in helping to professionalize our military and making it more effective.

Just as important, we are thankful to the U.S. for being such a good ally in our— working on soft power by helping us build bridges, roads, schools, not only in Mindanao but across the nation. And this assistance of the U.S. has gone a long way in helping us to achieve what we have been able to achieve in the peace process in Mindanao in southern Philippines, and also in our fight against terrorism.

I was very happy to let President Obama know that the Muslim secessionists have agreed, together with a Philippine government panel, to work towards a resumption of formal peace talks, and we're very thankful for the international community, including the U.S., for their assistance in bringing us to this stage.

Internationally, we stand foursquare behind the United States on the position that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea's nuclear adventurism.

We also applaud President Obama for his leadership on climate change, which is so important to the Philippines because we are an archipelagic country and severe climate change is going to be disastrous for our country. We are already feeling the weather pattern changes in the rising seas.

We are also—finally, may I say that I bring the thanks also of our Filipino veterans for the inclusion of the veterans' benefits in the fiscal stimulus package, something that we have all waited for as a country for the last 60 years.

So I'm very grateful for this opportunity. We thank the Obama administration for the new engagement in our part of the world, and we look forward to a stronger relationship between the U.S. and ASEAN and, bilaterally, a stronger relationship with our two countries.

Thank you, Mr. President.

On Aung San Suu Kyi's conviction and sentencing

The conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi today on charges related to an uninvited intrusion into her home violate universal principles of human rights, run counter to Burma's commitments under the ASEAN charter, and demonstrate continued disregard for UN Security Council statements. I join the international community in calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate unconditional release.

Today's unjust decision reminds us of the thousands of other political prisoners in Burma who, like Aung San Suu Kyi, have been denied their liberty because of their pursuit of a government that respects the will, rights, and aspirations of all Burmese citizens. They, too, should be freed. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. I call on the Burmese regime to heed the views of its own people and the international community and to work towards genuine national reconciliation.

I am also concerned by the sentencing of American citizen John Yettaw to seven years in prison, a punishment out of proportion with his actions.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada delivered these remarks in New York, NY

Secretary Clinton. Well, let me say what a great privilege it is for me to welcome the foreign minister so soon after he has taken his new position—five days. And obviously, the alliance between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of our foreign policy and indispensable to the security and prosperity of the Asia Pacific. We are both representing new governments, although the minister is much newer than I am now. And I look forward to working with him to develop and strengthen even stronger bonds of partnership, friendship, and alliance in pursuit of our common values, and a future that we hope will be even better for our people.

Q. How much of a blow would it be, Secretary Clinton, if the Japanese ceased the Indian Ocean refueling mission for Afghanistan?

Secretary Clinton. Arshad, we're going to be discussing a wide range of issues. Our relationship between Japan and the United States is so broad and so deep that there isn't any one issue that defines it. It is comprehensive and it has stood the test of time for many years. And I'm looking forward to working with the minister, and on behalf of the Obama Administration, really rolling up our sleeves and determining how best we can broaden and deepen this already very strong relationship.

Q. Are you going to talk about the bases?

Staff. Thank you, guys. Thank you, guys.