20 October 2001
Transcript: Bush Calls War on Terror "The Urgent Task of Our Time"
(President addresses business leaders in Shanghai) (2610)
Calling the war against terror "the urgent task of our time,"
President Bush on October 20 renewed his call for countries to join
the global coalition against terrorism.
"Every nation now must oppose this enemy, or be, in turn, its target,"
he said. "Those who hate all civilization and culture and progress,
those who embrace death to cause the death of the innocent, cannot be
ignored, cannot be appeased. They must be fought," Bush said.
"This is my firm resolve, and the firm resolve of my nation," he
added.
The president was speaking to business executives attending the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Shanghai. Bush told
them that leaders of the APEC economies would conclude their two-day
meeting with a firm condemnation of terrorism and a commitment to help
thwart those who would commit terrorist acts.
"Tomorrow, APEC leaders will pledge to work together to deny the
terrorists any sanctuary, any funding, any material or moral support,"
Bush said. "Together, we will, patiently and diligently, pursue the
terrorists from place to place until justice is done."
The war against terror has multiple fronts, Bush said, noting that
military action "is only a part of our plan." The campaign will
include diplomacy, intelligence, law enforcement and financial
cooperation. "It will span every continent and require varied
contributions from many nations," he said.
He underlined that the U.S.-led military campaign against the Taliban
is complemented by significant efforts to aid the Afghan people
through food drops and other humanitarian aid. "[W]e seek friendship
with the Afghan people," Bush said.
The president expressed frustration over the interruption of aid
deliveries in Afghanistan, and laid the blame at the feet of the
Taliban. "They disrupt; they steal; they prevent supplies of food from
delivery. They starve their people, and that is another reason they
must go," Bush said.
By attacking the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York,
the terrorists tried -- but failed -- to shatter confidence in the
world economy, Bush said.
"The terrorists hoped world markets would collapse," the president
said. "But markets have proven their resiliency and fundamental
strength." He cited the work of APEC leaders to open markets and
expand commercial ties as crucial to the fight against terrorism.
"I'm here in Shanghai to assure our friends -- and to inform our foes
-- that the progress of trade and freedom will continue. The ties of
culture and commerce will grow stronger," Bush said.
He also stressed the strong correlation between economic and political
freedoms. "All nations must also realize that, in the long run, the
habits of economic freedom will create expectations of greater
democracy," Bush said. "All people -- of every religious or ethnic
group -- have a right to participate in their nation's political
life."
Following is the transcript of Bush's remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Shanghai, People's Republic of China)
For Immediate Release
October 20, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE CEO SUMMIT
Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Bob, thank you so much for
your kind words, and thank you for your great service to our country.
Thank you, Chairman Yu, as well, for your good work in organizing this
event.
I want to thank our hosts. I was telling Chairman Yu that I was here
in 1975 with my mother. (Laughter.) Shanghai has finally recovered.
(Laughter.) I can't tell you what a startling difference it is,
Shanghai is today than what it was in 1975. It's a great testimony to
the Chinese people and the leadership of Shanghai, and the leadership
of this great land.
I also want to say that I'm proud to be accompanied by our great
Secretary of State, who is doing such a fantastic job for the United
States of America, Colin Powell. (Applause.)
We meet today with recent memories of great evil -- yet great hope for
this region and its future. The attacks of September 11th took place
in my country, but they were really an attack on all civilized
countries. The roll of the dead and the missing includes citizens from
over 80 nations -- 96 Russians, 23 Australians, at least 30 Chinese,
24 Japanese, 20 Malaysians, 16 Mexicans, 21 Indonesians.
This was truly a crime against humanity. And it stands condemned by
humanity.
The American people are grateful for the world's sympathy and support
following September 11th. We truly are. We won't forget the American
Stars and Stripes flying in solidarity from every fire truck in
Montreal, Canada; or children kneeling in silent prayer outside the
embassy in Seoul; baseball players in Japan observing moments of
silence; a sign handwritten in English at a candlelight vigil in
Beijing that read, "Freedom and justice will not be stopped."
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the phone calls from leaders
from around the world. We're deeply grateful to countries -- including
all the APEC countries -- that have now joined in a great coalition
against terror.
In our world, there is no isolation from evil. Our enemies are
murderers with global reach. They seek weapons to kill on a global
scale. Every nation now must oppose this enemy, or be, in turn, its
target. Those who hate all civilization and culture and progress,
those who embrace death to cause the death of the innocent, cannot be
ignored, cannot be appeased. They must be fought. This is my firm
resolve, and the firm resolve of my nation. This is the urgent task of
our time.
The most visible part of our response is taking place in Afghanistan.
The Taliban regime has allied itself with murderers. I gave Taliban
leaders a choice: turn over the terrorists, or face your ruin. They
chose unwisely.
Yet, even as we oppose the Taliban, we seek friendship with the Afghan
people. Our military actions are accompanied by food drops. We have
substantially increased aid to Afghanistan. My government supports
international efforts to bring help and stability and peace to that
unfortunate nation.
There's frustration about the delivery of food and medicine and help
in Afghanistan. I share that frustration. The guilty ones are the
Taliban. They disrupt; they steal; they prevent supplies of food from
delivery. They starve their people, and that is another reason they
must go. (Applause.)
Our war on terror has many fronts, and military action is only a part
of our plan. This campaign will take strong diplomacy and
intelligence; diligent law enforcement and financial cooperation. It
will span every continent and require varied contributions from many
nations.
Tomorrow, APEC leaders will pledge to work together to deny the
terrorists any sanctuary, any funding, any material or moral support.
Together, we will, patiently and diligently, pursue the terrorists
from place to place until justice is done.
This conflict is a fight to save the civilized world, and values
common to the West, to Asia, to Islam. Throughout the world, people of
strong faith, of all faiths, condemn the murder of the innocent.
Throughout the world, people value their families -- and nowhere do
civilized people rejoice in the murder of children or the creation of
orphans. By their cruelty, the terrorists have chosen to live on the
hunted margin of mankind. By their hatred, they have divorced
themselves from the values that define civilization itself.
The stakes of this fight for all nations are high -- our lives, our
way of life, and our economic future. By attacking two great economic
symbols, the terrorists tried to shatter confidence in the world
economic system. But they failed.
The terrorists hoped world markets would collapse. But markets have
proven their resiliency and fundamental strength. And this week in
these halls, we return to the steady work of building the market-based
economic system that has brought more prosperity more quickly to more
people than at any time in human history. We know a future of greater
trade and growth and human dignity is possible -- and we will build
it.
When nations allow their citizens to exercise conscience and
creativity, the result is economic and social progress. When nations
accept the rules of the modern world, they discover the benefits of
the modern world.
This vast region and its people -- 21 economies, on the shores of a
peaceful ocean -- are demonstrating the power and appeal of markets
and trade. China's per capita GDP has grown by 513 percent since 1975.
Seventy-three percent of all South Korean households have personal
computers. Slashing trade barriers has helped Chile raise per capita
incomes by 53 percent over the past 10 years.
And the wealth generated by markets and trade brings dramatic
improvements to human lives. Indonesia has cut its infant mortality
rate in half since 1980. Malaysia's illiteracy rate is one-third of
what it was in 1975; Mexico is less than half.
I'm here in Shanghai to assure our friends -- and to inform our foes
-- that the progress of trade and freedom will continue. The ties of
culture and commerce will grow stronger. Economic development will
grow broader.
The Asia Pacific region provides the world with a model and a choice:
Choose openness, trade, and tolerance, and you will find prosperity,
liberty and knowledge. Choose isolation, envy and resentment, and you
will find poverty, stagnation and ignorance. Our nations have chosen
-- we have chosen freedom over fear.
Out of the sorrow of September 11th, I see opportunity -- a chance for
nations and their leaders to strengthen and to rethink and
reinvigorate our relationships. We share more than a common enemy, we
share a common goal: to expand our ties of trade and trust. And now we
must seize the opportunity.
First, our governments must keep the path of economic progress. That
progress begins with freer trade. Trade is the engine of economic
advancement. On every continent, in every culture, trade generates
opportunity, enhances entrepreneur growth. And trade applies the power
of markets to the needs of the poor. It has lifted countless lives in
this region, from Asia to Australia to the Americas.
Together, we must meet the Bogor goals, including free trade for every
nation in this region by 2020. The Shanghai Accord we'll sign tomorrow
gives us new and useful tools to enhance trade and investment.
We must also launch a new global trade round in November in Doha.
We're committed to the goal of a world that lives and trades in
freedom, and we must meet any challenge that stands in our way.
There's much work to be done, and all of us, every nation, must
redouble our efforts to see that Doha is a success. And every CEO in
this room knows the strong case for free trade, and I urge all of you
to press that case with your own governments.
The United States will do its part to restore economic momentum for
the world. We'll keep our markets open, and our country open for
business. (Applause.) We've already announced additional spending to
assist and rebuild New York City, to stabilize the airline industry,
and defend our country. Tax rebates have been arriving in America's
mailboxes. Interest rates have been cut to historically low levels. In
addition, I'm working with Congress to help workers who have lost
their jobs, and to stimulate the American economy with additional tax
relief, relief that will bolster consumer spending and provide
incentives for business investment.
The economic fundamentals in America are strong, and our nation will
recover. (Applause.)
Even before September 11th, this region faced economic uncertainty.
The answer is more trade and openness, not less. This region needs
regulatory systems that attract investors. Banking systems must be
more transparent. Corporations must be more open and accountable. And
as called for in the Shanghai Accord, we must dramatically reduce the
cost of doing business across borders, by streamlining customs
procedures, by harmonizing technology standards, and by cutting red
tape.
Even in the midst of our current slowdown, there are many encouraging
signs. Reform programs have been put in place in Japan, the
Philippines, and Indonesia. China and Taiwan have made great strides
as they prepare for WTO membership. Russia and Mexico are tracking new
sources of capital. All of this is progress, and we must build on it.
Our second broad challenge is to fight terrorism within our countries,
without undermining the ties of commerce and friendship between our
countries. Terrorists want to turn the openness of the global economy
against itself. We must not let them. We need customs, financial,
immigration, and transportation systems that make it easier for us to
do our business, and much harder for terrorists to do theirs. Pursuing
both openness and security is difficult. But it is necessary, and it
is the aim of the counter-terror measures the APEC leaders will commit
themselves to tomorrow.
Our third challenge is to see to it that the benefits of prosperity
and freedom are widely shared. The great alternative to hate is hope.
And to seize the hopeful opportunities of markets and trade, people
must be educated and healthy, and governments must be fair, and just,
and committed to the rule of law.
All of our citizens need basic education. The greatest resource of any
nation is the creative energies of its people. They must gain the
skills demanded by a new economic world. Only when literacy and
learning are widespread will the benefits of the global economy be
widely shared.
All our citizens must have the advantage of basic health. Diseases
such as AIDS destroy countless lives and undermine the success of many
nations. Prosperous nations must work in partnership with developing
nations to help remove the cloud of disease from our world's future.
Our governments must continue to fight official corruption in every
form. Good economies can be suffocated by bureaucrats that serve
themselves and not the public. Corrupt officials can destroy people's
faith in fairness and in progress.
All nations must also realize that, in the long run, the habits of
economic freedom will create expectations of greater democracy. All
people -- of every religious or ethnic group -- have a right to
participate in their nation's political life. No government should use
our war against terrorism as an excuse to persecute minorities within
their borders. Ethnic minorities must know that their rights will be
safeguarded -- that their churches, temples, and mosques belong to
them. We must respect legitimate political aspirations, and, at the
same time, oppose all who spread terror in the name of politics or
religion. (Applause.)
Our times present many challenges. Yet I'm confident about our shared
future. I know that our region and our world can trade in freedom. I
know we can bring health and education and prosperity to our people.
And I know we can defeat terror, so our children and grandchildren can
live in peace and security.
In the struggle of freedom against fear, the outcome is certain. We
speak for the common hopes of mankind -- to live as we choose, to
follow our faith, to build better lives for all who follow us. These
hopes have carried us a long way, bringing progress and prosperity to
millions. And they carry us forward to even greater achievement.
Now is the time to act boldly, to build and defend an age of liberty.
Thank you for having me. (Applause.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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