Transcript: Joint Press Conference with President Bush and Prime Minister Blair

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Thank you for the kind words about that. And I look forward to working not just on the issues to do with the G-8, but on the full range of the international agenda with you. It's a good alliance and a good partnership for our two countries and I believe for the wider world. Thank you.

BUSH: Thank you. We'll answer two questions a side.

QUESTION: Prime Minister Blair has been pushing for wealthy nations to double aid to Africa. With American aid levels at among the lowest in the G-8 as a proportion of national income and the problems on the continent so dire, why isn't doubling U.S. aid a good idea?

BUSH: Well, first, as I've said in my statement, we've tripled aid to Africa. Africa is an important part of my foreign policy. I remember when I first talked to Condi, when I was trying to convince her to become the national security adviser, she said, "Are you going to pay attention to the continent of Africa?" I said, "You bet."

And I fulfilled that commitment. We've convinced Congress to triple aid. We've got a significant HIV/AIDS initiative that we're undertaking. We started what's called the Millennium Challenge Account. And we'll do more down the road. Now, in terms of whether or not the formula that you've commented upon is the right way to analyze the United States' commitment to her, I don't think it is. I don't think -- there's a lot of things that aren't counted in our desire to spread compassion.

But our country has taken the lead in Africa, and we'll stay there. It's the right thing to do. It's important to help Africa get on her feet. And by the way, I think one of the things that many African nations have come to discover is that through trade they can develop a more hopeful society rather than through aid. I mean, aid helps.

But we passed what's called AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and have extended it. It was passed during President Clinton's period; my administration extended it with Congress. And it's made an enormous difference to young economies.

When you open up your market to entrepreneurs and small businesses, it helps spread wealth, and that's, after all, what we're trying to achieve. So I'm proud of our accomplishments, and we'll continue to take the lead on the issue.

BLAIR: OK. Andy?

QUESTION: Thank you.

BUSH: Andy's still with you.

BLAIR: He is.