Remarks by President Obama and President Sebastian Pinera of Chile at Join Press Conference

La Moneda Palace, Santiago, Chile

3:18 P.M. CT

       PRESIDENT PINERA:  (As translated.)  Good afternoon, everyone.  Firstly, I would like to cordially and heartily welcome a friend of Chile and a personal friend, President Obama. I think that your visit, President, is very important and has enormous significance for Chile.  It’s the first time in more than 20 years that a President of the United States visits our country.

       Of course, we've had several multilateral summits of world leaders, and this visit coincides with the celebration of 50 years of the Alliance for Progress that was announced by President Kennedy at the beginning of the ‘60s.

       We have had with President Obama a very open, frank, and fruitful conversation, and we have been able to subscribe many agreements of different nature, but they do have something in common.  They all contribute to a better life and better quality of life for our peoples -- like trade promotion and to accelerate and perfect the free trade agreement we have with the United States; cooperation in the field of education and English teaching in order to make of Chile bilingual country; collaboration in the developments and efficient use of energies, and cleaner energies in particular -- renewable energies, where Chile has numerous potential; and also collaboration in research technologies and training of our engineers and technicians in nuclear energy.

      But I want to be very clear and adamant.  Chile is not going to build, nor is it planning to build any nuclear power plants during our government, during our administration.  The idea of this agreement is that we may understand much better nuclear technologies, to be able to train our engineers and technicians so that in the future we may make more informed decisions, more intelligent decisions protecting the health and life of our population, the environment, and nature, and also that will allow us to ensure that the operation of our two experimental nuclear power plants be fully, fully safe.

      Also we have signed agreements to collaborate in natural disasters, in early warning mechanisms and effective aid and rescue of civil populations.  We have much to learn from -- in situations like FEMA in the United States.

      Another agreement is something addressing the only renewable resource of modern times -- science, technology and innovation and entrepreneurship -- that we need to restrengthen our countries so as to reach the development states that we are seeking.  And then finally the agreements to better protect our nature, our environment.

      I want to tell you President Obama that when you announced your visit to Chile, Brazil and El Salvador on the occasion of your State of the Union address, you said you were coming to forge new partnerships for the progress of the Americas, and you said that throughout all the world you were committed to those countries that assume their responsibilities.  Frankly, I think that Chile has assumed and will continue to assume its responsibility with our fate, with our region, with our country, and to the extent possible, with the rest of the world.

       And as we have been able to evidence in our conversations not only today but also in your country and in Asia, we have discovered that our two nations have a road of collaboration that can be built on rock and not on sand, because we coincide in that which is key -- the values, the principles, the visions.  That facilitates the road.  And with that we can convincingly embrace this new alliance, this new partnership between the United States of America and the rest of the American countries -- we are all Americans -- an alliance that should be much deeper and forward-looking than the Alliance for Progress.  And this partnership, this alliance is one of our times, of our 21st century, of the society of information and technology.

      President Obama, Chile has set for itself an ambitious goal: Before the end of this decade to leave under-development behind; to defeat poverty and to build a society of opportunities and assurance for all of its sons and daughters; and also to achieve a strong alliance among equals, with the same rights, obligations of Latin America with the United States.  And this is going to be very powerful, very useful in many fields:  promotion of world peace, perfecting of democracy, rule of law, and defense of human rights; but also in economic integration where Chile aspires to accelerate, perfect and deepen our free trade agreement with the United States.

      Also, we would like to raise our voice to ask for countries like Colombia and Panama also to have free trade agreements with your country and may join in this Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative.  It’s going to be a free trade area on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and where we will find the largest free trade market in the world.

       Also, we are concerned about the delays and tensions of the Doha Round.  I know that the United States is going to make efforts for this to move forward.

       And then, on the other hand, I would like to raise to you a much closer collaboration in the field of science, technology, innovation and undertaking, because in modern times free trade has to be not only of goods but of ideas; not only of services but of knowledge; not only of investments but also of technology.
      And to also press, Mr. President, we are committed in the struggle against poverty and excessive inequalities in our country and our continent.  And we want to keep on collaborating with the U.S. so as to contribute to other Latin American countries.  Just like we can learn from them, they can learn from success stories in our country.  And in combating the evils of modern society -- fight against drug trafficking, terrorism, global warming, and the proliferation of massive destruction weapons and nuclear weapons.

      I was talking with President Obama in -- avoiding this nuclear menace.  But it’s not only that a few countries in the world will have nuclear weapons and others not, but to have a world without weapons of mass destruction.  This is the common goal we share with President Obama and with all the men and women of goodwill of all of the world.

       President Obama, I have read with great attention your words in Cairo, Egypt, for the Arab world, where you proposed a new beginning in the relations between the United States and the Islam world, and also, your words in Accra, Ghana, where you raised a new commitment, a new promise, new commitment with the sub-Saharan African world.  And today, the winds of freedom, of democracy, of participation and protection of human rights are stronger than ever, even those countries that had -- it had not existed for many years.  This is a great opportunity to have a new alliance between the United States and the Latin America countries.

       That is why I would like to tell you that Latin America is more prepared than ever today so as to leave poverty and underdevelopment behind that have been with us for 200 years of independent life, and undertake the adventure of the future of democracy, of freedom, of development, of equality of opportunities.  That we may have a continent as we have dreamt it always from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, that will become a land of freedom, of opportunities, of progress, but also a land of fairness and camaraderie as dreamt by the Founding Fathers of that great nation of the United States, like the case of Jefferson, a great patriot like Lincoln, but also like San Martin and O’higgins from our continent.

       And the question is a very straightforward one, a very simple one:  It’s our challenge.  It’s our mission, the mission of the generation of the bicentennial.  Because if it’s not now, then when?  If we are not the ones, then who?

       Then, President Obama, we listen with great attention, with great interest, the message you will deliver in a few hours from the Cultural Center of La Moneda to Latin America and to the whole world.

       Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you very much, President Pinera.  Buenes tardes to everyone here.

       I want to, first of all, just extend my greetings to the people of Chile, and I am so grateful for not only the generous words, but also the outstanding hospitality that's being shown to me, as well as my family.

       I want to begin today by noting that President Pinera and I discussed some urgent events unfolding around the world.  Together with our partners, the United States is taking military action to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 and protect the Libyan people.

       Across the region, we believe that the legitimate aspirations of people must be met and that violence against civilians is not the answer.  And across the Pacific, both Chile and the United States are supporting the Japanese people as they recover from the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami and address the situation in their damaged nuclear facility.

       These events remind us that in our interconnected world, the security and prosperity of nations and peoples are intertwined as never before.  And no region is more closely linked than the United States and Latin America.  And here in the Americas, one of our closest and strongest partners is Chile.

       Chile is one of the great success stories of this region.  It’s built a robust democracy.  It’s been one of the most open and fastest growing economies in the world.  The spirit and resilience of the Chilean people, especially after last year’s earthquake, have inspired people across the globe.  And in my speech this afternoon, I look forward to paying tribute to Chile’s progress and the lessons it offers as America forges a new era of partnership across the Americas.

      I was proud to welcome President Pinera to Washington last year for our Nuclear Security Summit.  Mr. President, I want to commend you on your decisive leadership in these first few months of office, and first year of office, a time that's been obviously very difficult and has tested the people of Chile.  I want to thank you for the focus and energy that you’ve brought to the partnership between our two countries, which we have strengthened today.

      We’re moving ahead with efforts to expand trade and investment, as the President mentioned.  Under our existing trade agreement, trade between the United States and Chile has more than doubled, creating new jobs and opportunities in both our countries.  But I believe and President Pinera believes that there’s always more we can do to expand our economic cooperation.

      So today we recommitted ourselves to fully implementing our free trade agreement to include protections of intellectual property so our businesses can innovate and stay competitive.  We agreed to build on the progress we’re making towards a Trans-Pacific Partnership so we can seize the full potential of trade in the Asia Pacific, especially for our small and medium businesses.

      It’s my hope that, along with our other partners, we can reach an agreement on the framework for the TPP by the end of this year, an agreement that can serve as a model for the 21st century.

      We’re expanding the clean energy partnerships that are key to creating green jobs and addressing climate change, which is evident in the glacier melt in this region.  As a member of the Energy and Climate Partnership for the Americas that I proposed, Chile is already sharing its expertise with solar with the region.

      I want to commend President Pinera for agreeing to take another step, hosting a new center to address glacier melt in the Andes.  In addition, a new U.S.-Chile Energy Business Council will encourage collaborations between our companies in areas like energy efficiency and renewable technologies.

      Our governments have agreed to share our experience in dealing with natural disasters, an area, of course, where Chile has enormous expertise and which is critical to recovery and economic reconstruction.

      The President and I discussed our shared commitment to expanding educational exchanges among our students who can learn from each other and bring our countries even closer together.  And in my speech today, I’ll announce an ambitious new initiative to increase student exchanges between the United States and Latin America, including Chile.

       Even as we deepen cooperation between our two countries, I want to take this opportunity to commend Chile for the leadership role that it’s increasingly playing across the Americas.  Chile is a vital contributor to the United Nations mission in Haiti, where we agree that yesterday’s election is an opportunity to accelerate recovery and reconstruction efforts, and the Chilean legislature recently passed strong legislation to combat the scourge of human trafficking.

       Under President Pinera’s leadership, Chile is taking a new step today.  Mr. President, I want to thank you for offering to share Chile’s security expertise with Central American nations as they fight back against criminal gangs and narco-traffickers.  I’m also pleased that our two governments will be working together to promote development in the Americas.

       At the same time, Chile is assuming more a leadership role beyond the Americas.  As part of last year’s Nuclear Security Summit, Chile took the bold step of giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.  Chile is the first Latin American nation to join a new international effort to strengthen civil society groups that are under threat.  And as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council, Chile has joined with us in standing up against human rights abuses in Iran and in Libya.

       In short, Mr. President, today we’ve proven again that when the United States and Chile work together in a spirit of mutual interest and mutual respect, it’s not only good for the peoples of our nations, I believe it’s good for the region and it’s good for the world.  And I’m confident that our partnership will only grow stronger in the years to come.  And I’m very much grateful for the wonderful hospitality that you’re showing me and my delegation.

      Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

       Q    President Pinera, President Obama, good afternoon.  President Obama, you have emphasized and highlighted the economic management of Chile, the leadership in the region -- those were your words -- and even the successful transitioning to democracy in the difficult years of the ‘90s.  However, in Chile, President Obama, there are some open wounds of the dictatorship of General Pinochet.  And so in that sense, leaders, political leaders, leaders of the world, of human rights, even MPs (members of parliament), the son of the murdered Orlando Letelier, foreign minister, have said that many of those wounds have to do with the United States.  I ask you, justice is investigating cases of Allende and the death of President Eduardo Frei Montalba.  In that new speech that you will announce, do you include that the U.S. is willing to collaborate with those judicial investigations, even that the United States is willing to ask for forgiveness for what it did in those very difficult years in the ‘70s in Chile?

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, on the specific question of how we can work with the Chilean government, any requests that are made by Chile to obtain more information about the past is something that we will certainly consider and we would like to cooperate.  I think it’s very important for all of us to know our history.  And obviously the history of relations between the United States and Latin America have at times been extremely rocky and have at times been difficult.

       I think it’s important, though, for us, even as we understand our history and gain clarity about our history, that we’re not trapped by our history.  And the fact of the matter is, is that over the last two decades we’ve seen extraordinary progress here in Chile and that has not been impeded by the United States but, in fact, has been fully supported by the United States.

      So I can’t speak to all of the policies of the past.  I can speak certainly to the policies of the present and the future.  And as President of the United States, what I know is that our firm commitment to democracy, our firm commitment to eradicating poverty, our full commitment to broad-based and socially inclusive development, our full support of the robust, open markets that have developed here in Chile and the work that President Pinera and his predecessor, President Bachelet, have done in order to transform the economic situation here -- those are all things that the United States strongly supports.

      And so, again, it’s important for us to learn from our history, to understand our history, but not be trapped by it -- because we’ve got a lot of challenges now and, even more importantly, we have challenges in the future that we have to attend to.

      Q    Mr. President, Senor Presidente, muchas gracias.  Sir, how do you square your position that Colonel Qaddafi has lost legitimacy and must go against the limited objective of this campaign, which does not demand his removal?  If Colonel Qaddafi is killing his own people, is it permissible to let him stay in power?  And if I may add, do you have any regret, sir, about undertaking this mission while you’re on foreign soil?  And do you have the support of the Arab people in this yet?

      PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Okay.  First of all, I think I’m going to embarrass Jim by letting everyone know that Jim’s mother is Chilean, and so this is a little bit of a homecoming.  You were born in Chile, am I right?

      Q    Yes, sir.  It’s a delight to be here.  Thank you.

      PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Fantastic.  So I thought everybody should know that.  And also, I think that for all the Chilean press, you don’t need to take Jim’s example by asking three questions, pretending it’s one.  (Laughter.)

      Q    One subject.

      PRESIDENT OBAMA:  First of all, I think it’s very easy to square our military actions and our stated policies.  Our military action is in support of a international mandate from the Security Council that specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat posed by Colonel Qaddafi to his people.  Not only was he carrying out murders of civilians but he threatened more.  He said very specifically, we will show no mercy to people who lived in Benghazi.

      And in the face of that, the international community rallied and said we have to stop any potential atrocities inside of Libya, and provided a broad mandate to accomplish that specific task.  As part of that international coalition, I authorized the United States military to work with our international partners to fulfill that mandate.

      Now, I also have stated that it is U.S. policy that Qaddafi needs to go.  And we got a wide range of tools in addition to our military efforts to support that policy.  We were very rapid in initiating unilateral sanctions and then helping to mobilize international sanctions against the Qaddafi regime.  We froze assets that Qaddafi might have used to further empower himself and purchase weapons or hire mercenaries that might be directed against the Libyan people.

      So there are a whole range of policies that we are putting in place that has created one of the most powerful international consensuses around the isolation of Mr. Qaddafi, and we will continue to pursue those.  But when it comes to our military action, we are doing so in support of U.N. Security Resolution 1973, that specifically talks about humanitarian efforts.  And we are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate.

      I think it’s also important, since we’re on the topic, that I have consistently emphasized that because we’re working with international partners, after the initial thrust that has disabled Qaddafi’s air defenses, limits his ability to threaten large population centers like Benghazi, that there is going to be a transition taking place in which we have a range of coalition partners -- the Europeans, members of the Arab league -- who will then be participating in establishing a no-fly zone there.

      And so there is going to be a transition taking place in which we are one of the partners among many who are going to ensure that that no-fly zone is enforced and that the humanitarian protection that needs to be provided continues to be in place.

       With respect to initiating this action while I was abroad, keep in mind that we were working on very short time frames, and we had done all the work and it was just a matter of seeing how Qaddafi would react to the warning that I issued on Friday.

       He, despite words to the contrary, was continuing to act aggressively towards his civilians.  After a consultation with our allies, we decided to move forward.  And it was a matter of me directing Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen that the plan that had been developed in great detail extensively prior to my departure was put into place.

       Jim, I’ve forgotten if they were any other elements of that question.  But I’ve tried to be as thorough as possible.

       Q    Arab support, sir.

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, look, the Arab League specifically called for a no-fly zone before we went to the United Nations.  And that was I think an important element in this overall campaign.

       Q    But will they be part of the mission?

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Absolutely.  We are in consultations as we speak.  As I said, there are different phases to the campaign.  The initial campaign, we took a larger role because we’ve got some unique capabilities.  Our ability to take out, for example, Qaddafi’s air defense systems are much more significant than some of our other partners.  What that does then is it creates the space; it shapes the environment in which a no-fly zone can actually be effective.

      It was also important to make sure that we got in there quickly so that whatever advances were being made on Benghazi could be halted, and we could send a clear message to Qaddafi that he needed to start pulling his troops back.

       Now, keep in mind, we’ve only been in this process for two days now, and so we are continuing to evaluate the situation on the ground.  I know the Pentagon and our Defense Department will be briefing you extensively as this proceeds.  But the core principle that has to be upheld here is that when the entire international community almost unanimously says that there’s a potential humanitarian crisis about to take place, that a leader who has lost his legitimacy decides to turn his military on his own people, that we can’t simply stand by with empty words; that we have to take some sort of action.

       I think it’s also important to note that the way that the U.S. took leadership and managed this process ensures international legitimacy and ensures that our partners, members of the international coalition are bearing the burden of following through on the mission, as well.  Because, as you know, in the past there have been times where the United States acted unilaterally or did not have full international support, and as a consequence typically it was the United States military that ended up bearing the entire burden.

       Now, last point I’ll make on this:  I could not be prouder of the manner in which the U.S. military has performed over the last several days.  And it’s a testament to the men and women in uniform who, when they're given a mission, they execute and do an outstanding job.

       But, obviously, our military is already very stretched and carries large burdens all around the world.  And whenever possible for us to be able to get international cooperation -- not just in terms of words, but also in terms of planes and pilots and resources -- that's something that we should actively seek and embrace, because it relieves the burden on our military and it relieves the burden on U.S. taxpayers to fulfill what is an international mission and not simply a U.S. mission.

       Q    Thank you, sir.

       Q    Mr. President, can I ask you -- I will ask you in English -- I'd like you to answer to the response that the President gave regarding the wounds that still linger in this country, and the need that some of the people in this country want for an apology from the United States, perhaps, and certainly for assistance in any investigations that are still ongoing here.  Thank you.

       PRESIDENT PINERA:  (As translated.)  The coup d’etat existed in Chile 40 years ago.  We had a long and profound conversation with President Obama.  We didn't have much time to cover all the issues of the future, so we didn't so back into the past.

       But I can tell you that Chile, our government and this President believes, firmly believes in the self-determination of peoples, and firmly believes in the rule of law and respect for human rights.  For that reason, when we had evidence that in the case of President Frei Montalba, there could have been a homicide, our government submitted a claim, a complaint, is party to it, and it’s collaborating to investigate those responsible for the death of the former President Frei Montalba.  And once the judiciary ascertains those responsibilities, they will have to assume the penalties and punishment according to our rule of law.

       In the case of President Allende, we don't have the same basis.  But if we had them, we would act exactly in the same way and -- or the same presumptions.

      And I would like to say finally that today, the subject of democracy, of human rights has no borders, does not recognize any border, and that is progress of this 21st century civilization.

       And that is why Chile supports the initiative of the United Nations through its Security Council, NATO and the Arab League to do all that is possible to end a true carnage, killing of civilians in Libya.  And I think that is a responsibility of the international community, because as I said a while ago, human rights do not and should not respect borders.  The responsibility is of all of us in each and every place of the world, whatever the circumstances involved to violate human rights.  And in my view, a person that has bombarded his own people does not deserve to keep on being the ruler of that people.

       Q    Mr. President, you asked the Chilean press not to take advantage and make a several-part question, but you didn't mention the international press.  (Laughter.)

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Are you a lawyer or a journalist?  (Laughter.)

       Q    Well, we try to be precise.  (Laughter.)  So on Libya, when you say that you will be transferring command, when are you thinking of transferring command?  And would NATO be the preferred partner to take over that command?  And the second part of the question is that you have said that you want an alliance among equals with the peoples of the Americas.  What deliverables are you going to go for after this trip to achieve it?

       (As translated.) And, Senor Presidente Pinera, what is the content of this partnership so as to meet the goals of the region?

       PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, with respect to Libya, obviously, the situation is evolving on the ground.  And how quickly this transfer takes place will be determined by the recommendations of our commanding officers that the mission has been completed -- the first phase of the mission has been completed.

       As I said, our initial focus is taking out Libyan air defenses so that a no-fly zone can operate effectively and aircraft and pilots of the coalition are not threatened when they're maintaining the no-fly zone.  The second aspect of this is making sure that the humanitarian aspects of the mission can be met.

       But let me emphasize that we anticipate this transition to take place in a matter of days and not a matter of weeks.  And so I would expect that over the next several days we’ll have more information, and the Pentagon will be fully briefing the American people, as well as the press on that issue.

       NATO will be involved in a coordinating function because of the extraordinary capacity of that alliance.  But I will leave it to Admiral Mullen and those who are directly involved in the operation to describe to you how exactly that transfer might be
      -- might take place.

       With respect to this new partnership, I don't want to give you all my best lines from my speech; otherwise no one will come. (Laughter.)  But the thing that I’m most excited about is the fact that in a country like Chile, it’s not just a matter of what we can give to Chile; it’s also a matter of what Chile can offer us.

       Chile has done some very interesting work around clean energy, so we set up a clean energy partnership.  We think we’re doing terrific work on alternative energy sources, but there may be initiatives that are taking place here in Chile that might be transferrable to the United States.

       On education, obviously we have a long history of public education and our universities I think are second to none.  But we want to make sure that in this increasingly integrated world, American students aren’t just looking inwards, we’re also looking outwards.  And so the idea of us setting up a broad-based exchange program with the Americas I think makes an enormous difference.

       Security cooperation:  The plague of narco-traffickers in the region is something that we’re all too familiar with.  And obviously we have the example of Colombia that has made great strides in bringing security to a country that had been ravaged by drug wars.  What lessons can we take and then apply them to smaller countries in Central America, for example, that are going through these same struggles?

       For Chile, the United States, Colombia, other countries to work in concert to help to train effective security operations in Central America to deal with narco-traffickers is a kind of collaboration that would not be as effective if the United States were operating on its down.

      So I think across the spectrum of issues that we care about deeply, and that Chile care about deeply, what will characterize this new partnership is the fact that it’s a two-way street.  This is not just a situation where a highly developed country is helping a poor and impoverished country; this is a situation where an up-and-coming regional power that has a strong voice in international affairs is now collaborating with us to hopefully help greater peace and prosperity for the region and the world.

       PRESIDENT PINERA:  (As translated.)  No doubt that insofar as integration of the Americas, we are lagging behind.  And the best way to illustrate this is to compare what has happened in America with what happened in Europe.

       Last century, the Europeans had two world wars with a toll of more than 70 million casualties.  But at some point, they had the wisdom, the courage to abandon the rationale of Line Maginot, or Siegfried Line and to embrace Maastricht Treaty.  With the leadership and the vision of such renowned statesmen like Adenauer and De Gasperi, Housman, Truman -- they began to build what today we know of as European Union.

       And in America, we are much behind that.  In America, 20 years ago, President Bush, father, raised the idea of a free trade area from Alaska to “Fire Land” (Tierra del Fuego) generating a lot of enthusiasm in the region, but it never came true, never materialized.

      And so the time is right now because Latin America has been for too long the continent of hope or of the future, but a continent cannot be a promise forever.  And so we are of age now and we need to fulfill our mission.  Therefore the main task of Latin America is to recover the lost time and tap all of its potential.  

      We have lots of things in common with the U.S. -- vast, generous territory; homogenous peoples; hardworking people.  We don’t have racial problems that affect some African countries, or the wars that raged in Europe, nor the religious conflicts of Europe itself.  And therefore Latin America is called to compromise, or rather commitment with its own fate.

      And therefore we are looking forward to President Obama’s words.  We are left-handed -- we have many coincidences -- we studied in Harvard, both of us.  We are sportsmen.  President Obama continues to be a basketball player; I was in my time, as well.  I think the First Lady of the U.S. is very good-looking, and President Obama has said the same about the First Lady of Chile.  There are plenty of coincidences, but the most important one is the one we’ll find this afternoon.

      And modestly, if I could suggest to President Obama, we hope to have a partnership that is -- one where we have all responsibilities and not an existential alliance because existentialism has never been enough to face the major problems, but rather a partnership of collaboration between Latin America and the United States sharing values, principles, and a common vision.

      And that alliance should be comprehensive.  It should reach out to the fields of democracy, freedom, rule of law, defense of human rights.  And I think that we have to improve the democratic charter of OAS.  It should also open up the doors to the free trade of goods and services, and faster than what we have done hereto.

      And in addition to that, to include those subjects which are the true pillars of the 21st century -- quality of education, science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship.  Therein lie the pillars for Latin America so as leave poverty and antidevelopment behind.

      And we have so much to learn from a country like the United States, that, in its 230 years of independent life, has really given true evidence of being an innovative country and that has made the largest contribution to progress of mankind.

      And thus, Latin America and the United States have a lot to gain from this alliance, but also has to reach out to two of the most important challenges of the 21st century:  energy, to have clean, safe renewable energies; and water -- if global warming keeps on going, could be the most scarce resource of our century.

      And also face the major problems of modern society that cannot be faced unilaterally -- organized crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, global warming, the subject of world security.  It can no longer be faced individually.  We need to work jointly together.

      And in our view, that will call for a new international order that will replace that which emerged in Bretton Woods after the Second World War, and to be appropriate and adaptive to the needs and challenges of the 21st century, where the only constant thing we have is change.

      So the time is right to recover all that lost time.  And the time is here so that finally this relationship of encounters -- these encounters of shaking hands, for that to be in the past.  And let us initiate a new era of collaboration, reencountering friendly, effectively, concretely, that will truly face and solve the major problems; that will also open up the doors to tap the main opportunities.  This society of knowledge and information is knocking on our doors.

      Latin America was late to the Industrial Revolution.  We cannot be late in this tremendous revolution, which is so much deeper, which is that of knowledge and information.  And it has been very generous with the countries that want to embrace it, but very cool with those countries that do not tap it.

      No child should be left behind -- I’ve heard this from President Obama.  And here, we say in Latin America, no country should be left behind.

      Thank you.  (Applause.)

                       END                  4:05 P.M CT

Remarks by the President at CEO Business Summit in Brasilia, Brazil

Tryp Convention Brasil 21 Center
Brasilia, Brazil

4:04 P.M. BRT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Boa tarde.  Thank you very much.  Please, please, everybody be seated.  It is a great joy to be here in Brazil, and on behalf of Michelle and myself, I want to thank the people of Brasilia for the incredibly warm welcome that you’ve shown us since we arrived.

I want to make a few acknowledgements.  First of all, I want to thank the Brazil-U.S. Business Council for the outstanding work that they’re doing.  The National Conference of Industry and the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil, thank you all for the great job in hosting this conference.    

I want to acknowledge a number of my Cabinet who are here:  The Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, is here.  Gary Locke, the Secretary of Commerce; Ron Kirk, our U.S. Trade Representative -- (applause) -- Lisa Jackson, our EPA Administrator; Fred Hochberg, President of the Export/Import Bank; Michael Froman, my Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs.  (Applause.)  And to all the government officials of Brazil, thank you for your hospitality.

My only regret is that we missed the party by coming a few weeks after Carnival.  (Laughter.)  Maybe that's the best -- since I'm not sure I would have had the same level of productivity from my staff.  (Laughter.)

I also want to thank all the business and government officials who have traveled from the U.S. and all over Brazil to be here today.  After spending the morning discussing a range of economic issues with President Rousseff and talking with some Brazilian and American CEOs, I want to speak with you today about how we can work together to create new jobs and new opportunities in both our countries. 

In the last two centuries, there has never been a moment of greater promise for Brazil.  You now have the seventh largest economy in the world, and one of the fastest growing of any country.  In the span of nearly a decade, tens of millions of Brazilians have been lifted out of poverty.  Nearly half of your population is now considered middle class.  Instead of relying on the helping hand of other countries, you are now extending a hand to help developing nations.  You grow much of the world’s food, supply much of its biofuels, and will host the two largest international sporting events in the world.  And as I mentioned at the joint press conference with Madam President Rousseff, I'm still a little hurt about the Olympics coming here instead of my hometown in Chicago.  (Laughter.)  But I know you’ll do an outstanding job.   

So what has been accomplished here in Brazil is nothing short of remarkable.  It’s often been said that Brazil is a country for the future.  Well, that future has now arrived.  And despite the uncertainties over the last two years, Brazil has stepped onto the world stage as a major financial and economic power.

You did not arrive at this point by simply chance or good fortune.  Your success came because of hard work and the perseverance of the Brazilian people, the entrepreneurial spirit of many in this room, and the vision of leaders like Presidents Cardoso and Lula.  What these leaders realized, and what President Rousseff understands, is that the surest path to prosperity for Brazil involves free people and free markets.   

In a region of the world where the legacy of colonialism is still fresh, there was a legitimate concern in the last century that opening your economies to more trade would lead wealthier countries to extract resources without regard to your own nation’s development.  I understand that.  At the same time, many Latin American nations, including this one, lived through decades of dictatorships where closed economies failed to produce decent standards of living for the vast majority of people. 

But over the last decade, Brazil has proved to the world that there is another way.  You’ve shown that participation in the global economy can lead to widespread opportunity at home.  You’ve shown that the spirit of capitalism can thrive alongside the spirit of social justice.  You’ve shown that democracy is still the best path to economic progress, for when governments are accountable to their people, their people are more likely to prosper. 

In the United States of America, we have always shared these beliefs.  Like you, we threw off the yoke of colonialism and established our independence in the New World.  We, too, are a vast nation of immigrants from different backgrounds and cultures who find strength in our diversity, strength and unity in our national pride.  And as the two largest democracies and economies in the Western Hemisphere, we share a belief that all human beings deserve the chance to shape their own destiny and fulfill their God-given potential. 

For all these reasons, the United States supports the rise of Brazil as a global power.  That’s why we worked to empower the G20 -– where Brazil has a prominent seat at the table -– to be the premier forum for international economic cooperation.  That’s why we supported a bigger role for Brazil in various international institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank.  And that’s why Brazil is my first stop on my first trip to South America -- because we seek a deeper partnership with your government and a closer friendship with your people.  We believe that strengthening our economic ties will create new jobs and opportunities for both of our nations. 

As the United States looks to Brazil, we see the chance to sell more goods and services to a rapidly growing market of around 200 million consumers.  And for us, this is a jobs strategy.  When our businesses send more products overseas, it supports the workers who make and sell those products.  And I think most American businessmen who are here understand this.  For every $1 billion in U.S. exports, we see 5,000 U.S. jobs.

Already, our exports to Brazil have more than doubled over the last five years -– growing twice as fast as our overall exports, and faster than our exports to China.  We now sell $50 billion worth of goods and services to Brazil, and those sales support more than 250,000 jobs in the United States. 

For example, after one small business in North Carolina attended a trade forum in São Paulo last year, they came away with a manufacturing deal that sent auto parts to Brazil and led to the hiring of new workers in the United States.  Capstone Turbine in California recently sold $2 million worth of high-tech energy equipment that will support jobs in America and serve millions of Brazilians in the years to come.  And the government of Brazil recently purchased helicopters that will support U.S. manufacturing jobs from Pennsylvania to Alabama.    

These exports don’t just mean jobs for the United States; they also mean more services and more choices for the people of Brazil.  From telecommunication and information services to machinery and clean energy technology, American companies are contributing to the economic growth that is raising the living standards of Brazilians everywhere.  And our businesses don’t just make that contribution by exporting to Brazil, but also through billions of dollars in direct investment that supports jobs and businesses in both of our countries. 

Of course, our economic relationship isn’t just a one-way street of U.S. exports and U.S. investment.  The United States is the second largest market for Brazilian exports, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and businesses in this country.  Over the last decade, Brazilian companies have invested billions of dollars in American industries ranging from steel to information technology –- projects that will create thousands of jobs in the United States.  At the end of 2008, U.S. subsidiaries of Brazilian firms employed more than 42,000 U.S. workers.   

So there is no question that the United States and Brazil benefit from the economic ties we’ve developed over the years.  There’s also no question that strengthening those ties would be a win-win for both our nations.  And I’d like to mention four areas where I think we can do just that. 

First of all, I’m pleased to announce that President Rousseff and I just completed an agreement for a new Economic and Financial Dialogue.  It’s time for the United States to treat our engagement with Brazil on economic issues as seriously as we do with nations like China and India, and this dialogue will help us do that -- (applause.)  This dialogue will help us do that by promoting economic cooperation, streamlining regulations, and enhancing international cooperation not only at the G20 but elsewhere.

We’ve also completed an agreement for trade and economic cooperation which will help us expand the trade and investment that creates jobs in both of our countries.  This agreement will also foster greater dialogue about how we can break down the barriers that still exist between our two nations.  As the World Bank has noted, there are still too many obstacles in the way of doing business in Brazil.  And I know Brazil has issues with certain policies in the United States.  But I also know that there’s no country that has more to gain than Brazil from expanded trade and open markets.  And we want to help you resolve whatever challenges stand in the way of this goal. 

The second place we want to partner with Brazil is on the issue of energy, which is why President Rousseff and I also agreed to launch a Strategic Energy Dialogue.  By some estimates, the oil you recently discovered off the shores of Brazil could amount to twice the reserves we have in the United States.  We want to work with you.  We want to help with technology and support to develop these oil reserves safely, and when you’re ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers.  At a time when we’ve been reminded how easily instability in other parts of the world can affect the price of oil, the United States could not be happier with the potential for a new, stable source of energy.

Now, even as we focus on oil in the near term, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the only long-term solution to the world’s dependence on fossil fuels is clean energy technology.  And that’s why the United States and Brazil are deepening our cooperation on biofuels -- (applause) -- and why we’re launching a U.S.-Brazil Green Economy Partnership, because we know that the development of clean energy is one of the best ways to create new jobs and industries in both our nations. 

Already, more than half of the vehicles in Brazil run on biofuels.  Nearly 80 percent of your electricity comes from hydropower.  In the United States, we’ve jumpstarted a clean energy industry and we’ll soon have the capacity to produce 40 percent of the world’s advanced batteries.  If we can start sharing these new technologies, and leverage private investment from businesses like the ones in this room, we can grow our economies and clean our environment by making, using, trading, selling clean energy products all over the world.  That is a win for both our nations.

A third place we can cooperate is education.  I was speaking over lunch with President Rousseff, and we agreed a knowledge-based economy will be the key to growth and prosperity, and that means a skilled and educated workforce.  The more our young people, the more our students, the more our workers are exposed to new cultures and new ideas, the more equipped they’ll be able -- they’ll be to compete on a global scale.  And that’s why I’m so pleased that American and Brazilian business leaders have expressed interest in increasing student exchanges between our nations -- because when we invest in our people, we invest in our future.  (Applause.)

The final place we can work together is on infrastructure.  In 2014, the World Cup will take place in Brazil, the only nation that’s a five-time champion -- although the U.S. is getting better, you have to admit.  (Laughter.)  We’re getting better.  (Laughter.)  And as I already mentioned, Rio will host the Olympics in 2016.  But even though we lost a hard-fought contest, the United States doesn’t just want to watch from the stands.  Brazil is expected to invest over $200 billion to prepare for both of these events.  And as you look for businesses to design and build new roads and bridges and stadiums, American companies stand ready to help you meet this challenge -– on everything from engineering to manufacturing to construction.  We want to see these games and this nation succeed. 

So these are just some of the steps we can take to strengthen the ties that bind our two nations -– ties that offer the promise of greater prosperity and opportunity for Americans and Brazilians alike.  And yet, for all the deals and agreements that we may sign, the true potential of our partnership will only be realized by forging relationships between our people -– between business leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, teachers, students, and over one million citizens who travel to the U.S. and Brazil every year. 

Like all friends, we may not agree on every issue.  We won’t always take the exact same path.  But as the two largest democracies in the New World begin the second decade of a young century, let’s never forget all that we share. 

In the United States, we believe in what’s known as the American Dream -– the idea that no matter who you are, or where you come from, or how you start out, you can overcome the greatest obstacles and fulfill the greatest hopes.  I’m a testament to that dream.  I believe that that dream exists in this America, as well.  I can see it in the entrepreneurial spirit of the men and women in this room.  I could see it in the celebrations of Caricoas upon learning that the world will come to compete in Rio.  And I can see it running through so much of your history. 

Brasilia is a young city -- it will turn 51 next month.  But it began as a dream more than a century ago.  In 1883, Dom Bosco, Brasilia’s patron saint, had a vision that one day, a capital city of a great nation would be built between the 15th and 20th parallels.  It would be a model for the future and ensure that opportunity was the birthright of every Brazilian. 

And today, this city and this country are indeed a model for the future, showing the world that democracy is still the best partner of human progress.  As friends and neighbors who have lived the same story, we are eager to be a part of your future, and fulfill our American Dream together. 

Muito obrigado.  Thank you. 

END
4:21 P.M. BRT

Remarks by President Obama and President Rousseff of Brazil in Exchange of Toasts at Official Lunch in Brasilia, Brazil

Palácio do Itamaraty
Brasilia, Brazil

2:13 P.M. BRT
 
PRESIDENT ROUSSEFF:  (As translated.)  President of the United States; Madam Michelle Obama; Mr. Vice President of the Republic Michel Temer of Brazil; José Sarney, who is the Speaker of the House of the Senate; Deputy House Representative Marco Maia; Speaker of the House of Representatives; former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso; Ambassador Patriota, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mrs. Tania Cooper Patriota; members, distinguished members of the American delegation; ladies and gentlemen ministers; ladies and gentlemen governors; senators; house representatives; business community representatives; ladies and gentlemen from the Trade Union National Labor Federations; dear ladies and gentlemen journalists; ladies and gentlemen -- on behalf of the Brazilian people, I would like to reiterate the welcome to President Barack Obama.
 
This visit is a great opportunity for us to open one more chapter of our partnership allying it to the realities and the challenges of the 21st century.  This is a reason of great honor for me that this meeting should happen in the very first months of my administration, and even more within the context of the first official visit of President Obama to South America.
 
The presence amongst us of Michelle Obama, Malia and Sasha, and of an important delegation with the authorities of the Cabinet, politicians and businessmen and women reinforce the spirit of friendship that we gather here.
 
As I said today in the morning, it is a fact that we should celebrate that the first woman President of Brazil will receive today and host the first President Afro descent of the United States of America.  (Applause.)
 
And this is even more important and has a greater significance when we remember that the U.S. and Brazil are the two countries that has the largest black population outside Africa.  Our countries have common traits to deepen our affinities amongst our peoples, to make our friendship ties even closer and more meaningful and everlasting, a relationship that is based only on formal agreements amongst governments.
 
We are multiethnical democracies.  We have a long track record of the struggle of the minorities and for the respect in favor of diversity and against discrimination and intolerance.  We value freedom, equality and independence of peoples and nations.  We have high regards of our sovereignty.
 
Today, we adopt a joint communiqué and a whole series of agreements that will confirm the density of the relations between our two countries.  We have established new objectives -- not only the bilateral agenda, but also at the regional and global level on the basis of which we would like to build an order of peace and cooperation.
 
The U.S. and Brazil pursue together the completion in a successful way of the Doha Round of the WTO, with trade rules that will be more transparent and more fair.
 
And on the bilateral trade, I’m sure that it’s of mutual interest to promote generations of more balanced flows -- either in quantitative as in qualitative terms.  The capacity and dynamism of the private sector in our countries is fundamental for us to reach this objective.  That’s why we would like to greet the CEO forum of the two countries.
 
President Obama, as I said before today in the morning, Brazil today experiences a sound and strong economic reality.  We’re very proud to stress that the progress that was reached in the last years has benefited, above all, the poorest ones, the disenfranchised. 
 
Since 2002, millions of citizens have been mainstreamed into the brackets of middle class and upper class in Brazil.  And that’s a historical event in terms of social inclusion.  I’m committed to continue the direction of President Lula, also seeking to eradicate extreme poverty in Brazil.
 
Our development also has been accomplished in a sustainable way with respect to -- vis-à-vis the environment.  We know that the Brazilian energy matrix is a renewable source of energy that Brazil has.  But we are willing to build a great partnership in the field of energy, either what refers to the exploration of the pre-salt deep oil reserves, as also the explorations of renewable sources of energies and clean energy that could guarantee for all mankind and for the humanity and for Brazil and for the U.S. a better improvement of its development in a sustained way.
 
I am sure that I can count with the partnership of the U.S. in this new undertaking.  Brazil of the 21st century will continue to be engaged in the promotion of harmony in its region.  We are very proud, as I said before, to live in peace for more than one century with all our 10 neighbors.  We make all endeavors to consolidate peace, security, democracy, cooperation and growth with social fairness.
 
But our vision goes beyond that, President Obama.  We’re building new partnerships in Africa and the Middle East.  We are feeding the legitimate hope to contribute without voluntarism to seek constructive and realistic solutions for the major contemporary challenges, as such promoting a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians -- dear and close -- friendly peoples that we feel solidarity with them.
 
We have cooperated with India and South Africa in the IBSA Forum.  We have a regular dialogue, together with our South American neighbors, with the Arab world.  In the summit meetings of South American and Arab countries, we keep also a very important dialogue with South America and Africa, a continent that we owe so much within the South America and Africa summit meetings.  We have integrated the most dynamic -- we integrated to the most dynamic economies -- that is the BRIC groups -- and we have developed a strategic partnership with the European Union.
 
We want to contribute to a benign multi-polarity that is founded on dynamics of free cooperation, free of the asymmetries of the past that generate crisis and instabilities. 
 
Dear President Obama:  Brazil and the U.S. share convergences that could be translated in a fine-tuning of the purposes of the present and the future, if for that -- we can do that if we dedicate the best of our efforts.
 
The challenges of the 21st century are very highly complex.  The destabilizing potential of political crises that we have been following is unpredictable and also demands, first, to make more adequate international mechanisms of world political governance.
 
The world of today is not the same world of 60 years ago.  And also here Brazil has the consciousness of its responsibilities.  And that’s why we are ready to give our contribution for peace and international security at the U.N. Security Council that will be enhanced, more equitable and more democratic council.
 
President Obama, I can reassure you, sir, that I hope that Your Excellency and your family will take from Brasilia and from Rio the best memories of this friendly country.  The U.S. and Brazil are two great nations with a great future ahead of friendship and cooperation.  We want to build it.  With this spirit, I propose that we should raise a toast to you and to the dream of Martin Luther King, the same dream of Brazilians and Americans, the dream of freedom, the dream of hope.
 
And President Obama, I will like to add another dream -- a dream of harmony and peace amongst all of us.  Let’s give a toast to you and to your family, sir, and to your delegation.
 
(A toast is offered.)
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  President Rousseff, to all the distinguished guests, elected officials, business leaders who are here, I want to thank you so much, not only for your very kind words but for the extraordinary hospitality that you and the Brazilian people have shown me, Michelle and our daughters.  You’ve shown us the essence of the Brazilian spirit, which is truly simpatico. 
 
We gather here at one of the city’s most magnificent structures, which speaks to the creativity and the ingenuity and vision of Brazil and its people.  It calls to mind the words of President Kubitschek, who said, “What is Brasilia if not the dawn of a new day for Brazil?”  In our lives we’ve seen that new day come to pass.  Because of the sacrifices and courage of Brazilians like Madam President, you have built a vibrant democracy.  Because of the hard work and determination of the Brazilian people -— parents, students, entrepreneurs -— you’ve built a thriving economy.  Future historians will surely record Brazil’s rise as one of the great achievements of our time. 
 
As I said earlier today, the United States doesn’t simply welcome Brazil’s rise; we want to help in any ways that we can to realize Brazil’s full potential.  When you look at what our two countries share, as President Rousseff mentioned -- our belief in the dignity of every individual, our confidence that if we put our minds to it there’s nothing we can’t do, the incredible diversity of our peoples, our sense of responsibility to not only people within our borders but people beyond our borders -— well, it’s only natural that we would end up being close partners.  We can go further together.
 
Madam President, today we have seized an historic opportunity.  We’ve laid a foundation for greater cooperation and partnership between our nations for decades to come.  And I firmly believe that this will mean more dignity, more prosperity and more security -— not only for the peoples of our two nations, but for people across Latin America and around the world.
 
So I propose a toast -- calling those words from President Kubitschek.  To the new day in Brazil -— may the sunlight of progress and peace always shine upon you.  Saude.
 
(A toast is offered.)  (Applause.)
 
END
2:27 P.M. BRT

Remarks by President Obama and President Rousseff of Brazil in Brasilia, Brazil

Palacio do Planalto
Brasilia, Brazil

12:54 P.M. BRT

PRESIDENT ROUSSEFF:  (As translated.) Your Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; ladies and gentlemen; members of the delegation of the U.S. and of Brazil; ladies and gentlemen journalists; ladies and gentlemen. 

Mr. President Obama, your visit to my country makes me very happy and arouses the best feelings of our people and honors the historic relationship between Brazil and the U.S.  It bears also a very strong symbolic value.

The peoples of our countries have built the largest democracies of the Americas.  They also dared to take at the highest level an Afro descent and a woman, demonstrating that the basis of democracy allows to overcome the largest barriers to build societies that will be more generous and live more in harmony.

Here, Mr. President, I am the successor of a man that came from the people -- my dear friend Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, with whom I had the honor to work with.  His legacy, most noble legacy, Mr. President, was to bring to the political scene and social scene millions of men and women that lived marginalized and were disenfranchised of their rights as citizens. 

Of the nine heads of state of the U.S. that have visited officially Brazil, you are the one that sees our country in a most vibrant moment.  The combination of a very serious economic policy with sound fundamentals and a consistent strategy of social inclusion has made our country one of the most dynamic markets of the world. 

We have strengthened the renewable content of our energy matrix and we have advanced in developing the environmental policies that protect our important wind, forest reserves and also protects our very rich biodiversity.  All this effort, President Obama, has created millions of new jobs and has dynamized many regions that before lived marginalized of the economic development.  It has allowed Brazil to overcome with success the deepest economic crisis of recent history, keeping until the days of today record creation of new jobs. 

But we still face enormous challenges.  My administration at this moment is concentrating on the necessary tasks to improve our growth process and to guarantee the long period of prosperity for the Brazilian people.

My essential commitment is building a middle-class income society, assuring vocational, professional opportunities for the workers and for our immense youth population.  I also want to guarantee an institutional environment that will trigger entrepreneurship and will favor productive investment.

My government will work with dedication to overcome the shortcomings in terms of infrastructure, and we will make all our efforts to consolidate our clean energy, which is an essential, key asset of Brazil.  So we will take the necessary steps to reach our place amongst the nations that have full, strong development with democracy and social fairness.  This is the point, President Obama, that I see the best opportunities for the advancements of the relations between our countries. 

I follow very closely and I have high hopes on your efforts -- your tremendous efforts to recover the vitality of the North American economy.  We also have, as the rest of the world, one certainty, that the American people under your leadership will know how to find the best ways for the future of this great nation. 

The kindness of your visit here in the beginning of my administration and the long track record of friendship amongst our peoples have made it possible to mention two issues that I consider central to the future partnerships that we can develop: education and innovation.  Drawing closer ties and advancing in our educational experiments, enhancing our exchange programs and building progress in all fields of knowledge is a key issue for the future of our countries.

On research and innovation, the U.S. has reached the most extraordinary accomplishments in the last decades, fostering the productivity in different economic sectors.

Brazil, Mr. President Obama, has some important cutting-edge technologies in certain fields, like genetics, biotechnology, renewable sources of energy, and the exploration of oil in deep waters.  To combine our most advanced capabilities in the field of research and innovation certainly will yield the best fruits for our societies.

I would like to mention as an example the pre-salt, the deep-waters oil reserve, which is the longest cutting-edge borderline that Brazil has reached in terms of its technology.  We believe that the enormous challenges that we’ll face in each stage of exploration of this wealth could gather an unprecedented convergence of knowledge accumulated by the best centers of research in our countries.

But, Mr. President, if we wish to build a relationship that will be much more in depth, it’s necessary, frankly, to deal about our contradictions.  I am concerned especially with the acute effects that come from the economic imbalances that were created by the recent global financial meltdown.  We understand the context and the efforts that was undertaken by your government for the economic recovery of the U.S., something so important to the rest of the world.  Nevertheless, everybody knows that broad-ranging measures sometimes provoke important changes in the relations of currencies around the world.  This process is good economic practices and pushes countries towards protectionist measures and defensive measures of all nature.

We are a country that are making all the endeavors to come out of years of very low development rates.  That’s why we seek more fairness and balanced trade relations.  For us it’s fundamental that we should break away from the barriers that have arisen against our products, like ethanol, beef, cotton, orange juice, airplanes, and so on and so forth.  For us it’s fundamental that we should expand the educational and technological partnerships for the future.

I am equally concerned with the slow pace of the reforms in the multilateral institutions that still reflect an old world.  We work tirelessly for the reform in governance of the World Bank and of the IMF.  And we did that by the U.S., together with Brazil, together with other countries -- and we welcome the beginning of the changes that were undertaken in these multilateral institutions, although they're still very limited and belated due to the economic financial crisis.

We also advocated for fundamental reform in designing the global governance, the enhancement of the U.N. Security Council. Here, Mr. President, we’re not moved by a minor interest of bureaucratic occupation of spaces of representation.  What mobilizes us is the certainty that a world that is more multilateral will produce benefits for peace and harmony amongst the peoples of the world.

And even more, Mr. President, we’re also interested to learn with our own mistakes.  It was necessary -- a very severe economic crisis to move conservatism that blocked the reforms of the financial institutions.  In the case of the U.N. reform, we now have the opportunities to act in advance.

This country, Brazil, has a commitment with peace, with democracy and with consensus building.  This commitment, it is not something that is transitory, but is part of our permanent values.  Tolerance, dialogue, flexibility -- these are principles that are written in our constitution, in our history, and even in the nature of the Brazilian people.  We’re very proud to live in peace with all of our 10 neighbors for more than one century. 

One week ago, Mr. President, we were in the effect of a consultative treaty of the South American Union of Nations, which we’re reinforcing the unity of our continent.  Brazil is -- their wish to consolidate peace, security, democracy, cooperation and growth in this region with social fairness.  And within this environment is that we should develop the relations between Brazil and the U.S.

Mr. President, I would like to say that I see with great optimism our common future.  In the past, this relationship many times was overshadowed by empty rhetoric that diluted what was truly at stake between the U.S. and Brazil.  An alliance between our two countries, above all, if it intends to be a strategic alliance, is something that is a construct -- a construct that is common, as you said yourself in your State of the Union very recently -- when you delivered your State of the Union.  But it has to be a construct amongst equals.

Nevertheless, the differences these countries may have in terms of the size of their territory, the population, productive capacity or military might, we are countries of continental dimensions that follow the path of democracy.  We are multi-ethnical in our territories, live different and rich cultures -- each one in their own way.  We have what a Brazilian poet called -- we have “the feeling of the world.”

Your presence in Brazil, Mr. President, will be of great value in the construction that we want to do together. 

Once again, President Obama, welcome to Brazil.  (Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you, Madam President, for your very kind words, and thanks to you and the people of Brazil for the very warm welcome -- that legendary Brazilian hospitality that you’ve shown me, Michelle and our daughters.  Multo obrigado.

Now, in our meeting today I mentioned that this is my first visit to South America and Brazil is my first stop.  This is no coincidence.  The friendship between the people of the United States and Brazil spans nearly two centuries.  Our entrepreneurs and businesses innovate together.  Our scientists and researchers are pioneering new vaccines.  Our students and teachers explore new horizons.  And every day, we’re working to make our societies more inclusive and more just.

Brazil’s extraordinary rise, Madam President, has captured the attention of the world.  Because of the sacrifices of people like President Rousseff, Brazil moved from dictatorship to democracy.  As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Brazil has lifted tens of millions from poverty into a growing middle class. 

Today, the United States and Brazil are the hemisphere’s two largest democracies and the two largest economies.  Brazil is a regional leader promoting greater cooperation across the Americas and, increasingly, Brazil is a global leader, a world leader, going from a recipient of foreign aid to a donor nation, pointing the way to a world without nuclear weapons and being in the forefront of global efforts to confront climate change.

As President, I’ve pursued engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect.  And a key part of this engagement is forging deeper cooperation with 21st century centers of influence, including Brazil.  Put simply, the United States doesn’t simply recognize Brazil’s rise we support it enthusiastically.

And that's why we’ve made the G20 the world’s premier forum of global economic cooperation, to make sure that nations like Brazil have a greater voice.  That's why we’ve worked to increase Brazil’s vote and role at international financial institutions, and it is why I’ve come to Brazil today.

President Rousseff and I both believe that this visit is a historic opportunity to put the United States and Brazil on a path towards even greater cooperation for decades to come.  And today, we’re starting to seize that opportunity.

Madam President, I want to thank you for your strong personal commitment to strengthening the ties between our two nations.  We’re expanding trade and investment that create jobs in both our countries.  Brazil is one of our largest trading partners, but there’s still so much more that we can do.

Later today the President and I will be meeting with business leaders from our two countries to listen and find very concrete steps that we can take to expand our relationship economically.  We’ll be announcing a series of new agreements, including a new economic and financial dialogue to promote trade, streamline regulations and expand collaborations in science and technology. 

And as Brazil prepares to host the World Cup and the Summer Olympics -- which still hurts for me to say -- (laughter) -- we’re ensuring that American companies can play a role in the many infrastructure projects needed for these games. 

We’re creating a new strategic energy dialogue to make sure that the highest levels of our governments are working together to seize new opportunities.  In particular, with the new oil finds off Brazil, President Rousseff has said that Brazil wants to be a major supplier of new stable sources of energy, and I’ve told her that the United States wants to be a major customer, which would be a win-win for both our countries.

At the same time, we’re expanding our clean energy partnership that’s vital to our long-term energy security.  As a leader in renewable energy, such as biofuels, and as part of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas that I proposed, Brazil is sharing its expertise around the region and around the world.  And the new green economy dialogue that we’re creating today will deepen our cooperation even further, in green buildings and sustainable development.

On the security front, our militaries are working more closely to respond to humanitarian crises, as we did together in Haiti.  Our law enforcement communities are partnering against the narco-traffickers who threaten all of us.  Brazil is joining the international effort to prevent nuclear smuggling through ports.

I thanked President Rousseff for Brazil’s leadership towards establishing a new regional center to promote excellence in nuclear security.  And as a member of the Human Rights Council, Brazil joined with us in condemning human rights abuses by Libya.
    
I want to briefly mention the situation in Libya, because this is something that I’ve discussed with the President.  Yesterday, the international community demanded an immediate cease-fire in Libya, including an end to all attacks against civilians.  Today Secretary Clinton joined an international coalition of our European and Arab partners in Paris to discuss how we will enforce U.S. Security Council Resolution 1973. 

Our consensus was strong and our resolve is clear:  The people of Libya must be protected.  And in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act, and act with urgency.  And I am briefing President Rousseff on the steps that we are taking.

Finally, I'm especially pleased that the United States and Brazil are joining together to advance development and democratic governance beyond our hemisphere.  Brazil is helping lead the global initiative I announced at the United Nations last year to promote open government and new technologies that empower citizens around the world.  Today we're launching new efforts to help other countries combat corruption and prevent child labor, and we're expanding our efforts to promote food security and agricultural development in Africa.

I believe this is just the beginning of what our two countries can do together in the world.  That's why the United States will continue our efforts to make sure that the new realities of the 21st century are reflected in international institutions, as Madam President mentioned, including the United Nations, where Brazil aspires to a seat on the Security Council.

As I told President Rousseff, the United States is going to keep working with Brazil and other nations on reforms that make the Security Council more effective, more efficient, more representative, and advance our shared vision of a more secure and peaceful world.

So, again, with today’s progress, I believe we've laid the foundation for greater cooperation between the United States and Brazil for decades to come.  I want to thank President Rousseff for her leadership, for making this progress possible.  I had not known Madam President long, but I can tell in speaking to her, the extraordinary passion she has for providing opportunity for all the people of Brazil, lifting everyone up.  And that's a passion I share with respect to my citizens in the United States -- my fellow citizens in the United States of America.

So I am confident that given this shared spirit, this camaraderie that exists not only at our levels but among our peoples, that we are going to continue to make progress for a long time to come. 

I'm very much looking forward to visiting Rio tomorrow and the opportunity to speak directly to the Brazilian people about what our countries can do together as global partners in the 21st century.

Thank you so much.  (Applause.) 

END
1:15 P.M. BRT