1104 Aug. 6 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 looking forward to hearing her report from Royal Thai Armed Forces have stood united the trip. from Korea and Vietnam to Afghanistan and So, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank Iraq. Our free market economies have surged you very much for your hospitality. I want forward on a rising tide of trade and invest- to thank you for feeding my delegation. ment. Tourism has boomed as more people We’re looking forward to eating some good have discovered this beautiful and ancient Thai food, which is very famous throughout land. And some 200,000 Thai Americans now the world. Please give my very best regards enrich my nation with their enterprise and to His Majesty and Her Majesty. their culture and their faith. Prime Minister Samak. I will. On this historic anniversary of our alliance, President Bush. And thank you very America looks to Thailand as a leader in the much for being so gracious. region and a partner around the world. I was Prime Minister Samak. All right. Thank proud to designate Thailand a major non- you. NATO ally of the United States. I salute the NOTE: The President spoke at 7:51 p.m. at the Thai people on the restoration of democracy, Government House. In his remarks, the President which has proved that liberty and law reign referred to King Phumiphon Adunyadet and here in the ‘‘land of the free.’’ In many ways, Queen Sirikit of Thailand. the story of Thailand is the story of this re- gion. Over the past six decades, Asia has gone from an area mired in poverty and recovering Remarks in Bangkok from world war to a thriving and dynamic August 7, 2008 region. America has played a role in this transformation. By maintaining a stabilizing Thank you. Sawatdee khrap. Thank you for military presence, we helped to—we helped the warm welcome. Laura and I are de- free emerging nations to grow without con- lighted to be back in Bangkok. Such a beau- cerns about their security. By pursuing strong tiful city, full of gracious and hospitable peo- diplomatic engagement, we helped once-hos- ple. We appreciate the warm welcome ex- tile nations resolve their differences in peace. tended by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. By opening our markets to Asian exports, we I realize I’m a few days ahead of time, but helped powerful economies to take shape. I do wish Her Majesty a happy birthday. I’m proud of these contributions. Yet, the Above all, I bring America’s warmest wishes primary source of this region’s success is the to our oldest allies in Asia, the people of people. From South Korea to Singapore, na- Thailand. tions pursued economic policies based upon Our friendship began 175 years ago this free enterprise, free trade, and the rule of spring, when President Andrew Jackson dis- law. And the results have astounded the patched an envoy to Siam. Negotiations soon world. Last year, trade in goods between the concluded a treaty of peace and commerce United States and this side of the Pacific and sealed it, curiously enough, with a lotus reached $1 trillion. And there’s striking flower on one side and an eagle and stars change from the pattern of centuries: More on the other. Generations of close friendship trade now crosses the Pacific than the Atlan- followed. At one point, the Thai King offered tic. to send elephants to America. [Laughter] With the rise of economic freedom has President Abraham Lincoln politely de- come a dramatic expansion of political lib- clined. [Laughter] Yes, I was wondering erty. Think about this: After World War II, whether or not we can kind of get the offer Australia and New Zealand were the region’s back on the table. [Laughter] Although my only democracies. Today, the majority of ranch isn’t big enough, probably, to hold the Asian nations answer to their citizens. With elephants. [Laughter] this shift, the people of this region have de- The values of freedom and openness that fied the skeptics who claimed that Asian val- gave birth to our alliance have sustained it ues were incompatible with liberty. Free so- through the centuries. American troops and cieties emerged in largely Buddhist Thailand, VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:09 Aug 12, 2008 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P31AUT4.008 P31AUT4 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PRESDOCST Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 / Aug. 7 1105 largely Hindu India, largely Muslim Indo- tion of honesty and respect and shared val- nesia, largely Shinto Japan, and the largely ues. And when a new occupant moves into Christian Philippines. As freedom has taken the White House next year, America’s alli- root, peace has followed. And the region has ances in Asia will be the strongest they have gone decades without a major war. ever been. Some have called this transformation the As America has revitalized our treaty alli- ‘‘Asian miracle.’’ In truth, it’s no miracle at ances, we have forged deeper ties with other all. It’s evidence of universal truths: The pas- free nations in Asia. Countries that share our sion for liberty transcends culture and faith. democratic ideals should be natural partners Free markets unleash innovation and blaze of the United States. Yet, when I took office, the path to prosperity. Trusting in the natural our relations with many free nations in Asia talent and creativity of a nation’s people is were strained. For example, America has dra- the surest way to build a vibrant and hopeful matically improved our ties with India, the society. world’s largest democracy, including historic When I became President, I brought a agreement on civilian nuclear energy. conviction that America is a Pacific nation We’ve turned around our relationship with and that our interests and ideals require Indonesia, which is home to more Muslims stronger engagement in Asia than ever be- than any other nation on Earth. We’ve part- fore. So over the past 7 years, America has nered closely with Indonesia’s freely elected pursued four broad goals in the region: rein- government to help develop the institutions vigorate our alliances; forge new relation- of a vibrant democracy after decades of mili- ships with countries that share our values; tary rule. We signed a landmark agreement seize new opportunities for prosperity and with Mongolia to help boost democratic de- growth; and confront shared challenges to- velopment. We’ve enhanced cooperation gether. with the thriving countries of ASEAN, which Confident and purposeful alliances are the is now chaired by the great nation of Thai- best way to advance peace and prosperity in land. We’ve joined with free nations through- Asia. America has five treaty alliances in Asia. out the region to establish a new Asian Pa- And we take them seriously, and we bol- cific Democracy Partnership, the region’s stered each one. We signed a new treaty with only organization whose sole focus is pro- Australia that deepens our cooperation in moting democratic values and institutions in defense trade. We helped the Philippines Asia. upgrade its military capabilities. We’ve Overall, America has improved our rela- strengthened security initiatives here in Thai- tionships with all of Asia’s major powers at land. We’re improving our force posture in the same time. Experts would have said this South Korea by working to move our troops was impossible because of historical tensions out of cities and towns and into more strate- between these nations. But something has gically effective positions. We’ve reinforced rendered the old patterns obsolete. In an era our close alliance with Japan by launching of integrated markets and common threats, new missile defense initiatives and by trans- the expansion of freedom in one nation bene- forming our troop posture in a way that pre- fits all other free nations. This change marks serves our strong position to maintain the a sharp departure from the zero-sum men- peace in the Pacific. All these steps were de- tality of the past. And this change provides signed to reassure our allies that America will a clear charge for the future. Every nation stand firmly beside them in any test we face. in this region has a stake in ensuring that I’ve also worked to develop strong per- Asia continues to grow in liberty and pros- sonal relationships with our allies’ elected perity and hope. leaders. Who could ever forget the trip to One of the most powerful drivers of liberty Elvis’s place with Prime Minister Koizumi? and prosperity and hope is trade. When I [Laughter] I certainly will never forget it. took office, America had free trade agree- [Laughter] I don’t think a lot of people in ments in force with only three countries, Memphis, Tennessee, will ever forget it ei- none of them in Asia. Today, we have agree- ther. These friendships are built on a founda- ments in force with 14 countries, including VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:09 Aug 12, 2008 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P31AUT4.008 P31AUT4 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PRESDOCST 1106 Aug. 7 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 Australia and Singapore. We’ve concluded a Together we’re confronting the threat promising agreement with South Korea, posed by North Korea. The nations of North- which I am pushing the United States Con- east Asia all have an urgent stake in ensuring gress to pass. We’ve begun negotiating free that Pyongyang does not threaten the region trade agreements with Malaysia and a bilat- with nuclear weapons.