Press Conference by the President After G20 Meetings in Seoul, Korea

Coex Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

4:43 P.M. KST

      THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Before I discuss the G20, I want to briefly comment on the agreement in Iraq that's taken place on the framework for a new government.  There’s still challenges to overcome, but all indications are that the government will be representative, inclusive, and reflect the will of the Iraqi people who cast their ballots in the last election.

      This agreement marks another milestone in the history of modern Iraq.  Once again, Iraqis are showing their determination to unify Iraq and build its future and that those impulses are far stronger than those who want Iraq to descend into sectarian war and terror.

      For the last several months, the United States has worked closely with our Iraqi partners to promote a broad-based government -- one whose leaders share a commitment to serving all Iraqis as equal citizens.  Now, Iraq's leaders must finish the job of forming their government so that they can meet the challenges that a diverse coalition will inevitably face.  And going forward, we will support the Iraqi people as they strengthen their democracy, resolve political disputes, resettle those displaced by war, and build ties of commerce and cooperation with the United States, the region and the world.

      Now, here in Seoul, once again, we are very grateful to our hosts -- President Lee, and the people of Seoul and South Korea  -- for your extraordinary hospitality.

      We came to Seoul to continue the work that has taken us from London to Pittsburgh to Toronto.  We worked together to pull the global economy back from catastrophe.  To avoid the old cycles of boom and bust that led to that crisis, we committed ourselves to growth that is balanced and sustained, including financial reform and fiscal responsibility.

      The actions we took were not always easy or popular.  But they were necessary.  As a result, the global economy is growing again.  Some economies, especially emerging economies, are experiencing strong economic growth.  Trade has risen.  Jobs are being created, as in the United States, where we’ve had 10 consecutive months of private sector job growth and created more than one million private sector jobs this year alone.

      In short, we succeeded in putting the global economy back on the path of recovery -- but we also know that the progress has not come nearly fast enough, especially when it comes to my highest priority, which is putting Americans back to work.

      Nor have we yet achieved the balanced global growth that we need.  Many advanced economies are growing too slowly and not creating enough jobs.  Some countries are running large surpluses, others running large deficits.  Put simply, we risk slipping back into the old imbalances that contributed to the economic crisis in the first place and which threaten global recovery.

      So here in Seoul, the question was whether our nations could work together to keep the global economy growing.  I know the commentary tends to focus on the inevitable areas of disagreement, but the fact is the 20 major economies gathered here are in broad agreement on the way forward -- an agreement that is based on a framework that was put forward by the United States.  And for the first time, we spelled out the actions that are required -- in four key areas -- to achieve the sustained and balanced growth that we need.

      First, we agreed to keep focusing on growth.  At home, the United States has been doing our part by making historic investments in infrastructure and education, research and clean energy.  And as a consequence, our economy is growing again -– even as we must do more to ensure that that growth is sustained and translates into jobs for our people.

      Here at Seoul, we agreed that growth must be balanced.  Countries with large deficits must work to reduce them, as we are doing in the United States, where we’re on track to cut our deficit in half by 2013, and where I’m prepared to make tough decisions to achieve that goal.  Likewise, countries with large surpluses must shift away from unhealthy dependence on exports and take steps to boost domestic demand.  As I’ve said, going forward, no nation should assume that their path to prosperity is paved simply with exports to the United States.

      Second, we agreed that exchange rates must reflect economic realities.  Just as the major advanced economies need to keep working to preserve stability among reserve currencies, emerging economies need to allow for currencies that are market-driven. This is something that I raised yesterday with President Hu of China, and we will continue to closely watch the appreciation of China’s currency.  All of us need to avoid actions that perpetuate imbalances and give countries an undue advantage over one another.

      Third, we took further steps to implement financial regulatory reform.  At home, we are implementing the toughest financial reform since the Great Depression, and we are expecting the same sense of urgency, rather than complacency, among our G20 partners.  Here in Seoul we agreed to new standards -- similar to those that we’ve passed in the United States -- to make sure that banks have the capital they need to withstand shocks and not take excessive risks that could lead to another crisis.  And we agreed on an approach to ensure that taxpayers are not asked to pay for future bank failures.

      Fourth, we agreed to focus on development as a key driver of economic growth.  The work we did here today builds on a new development policy that I announced in September and recognizes that the most effective means of lifting people out of poverty is to create sustainable economic growth -– growth that will create the markets of the future.  We also agreed on an action plan to combat corruption, which in some countries is the single greatest barrier to economic progress.

      Finally, we reaffirmed the need to avoid protectionism that stifles growth and instead pursue trade and investment through open markets.  That’s why, for example, we will continue to work towards a U.S.-Korea free trade agreement in the coming weeks -- not just any agreement, but the best agreement to create jobs both in America and Korea.

      And that's why I spoke very frankly to my G20 partners today about the prospects of the Doha Round.  For just as emerging economies have gained a greater voice at international financial institutions -- in part because of the work we've done here at the G20 -- so, too, must they embrace their responsibilities to open markets to the trade and investment that creates jobs in all our countries.

      So, again, I want to thank our South Korean hosts for a very successful summit.  I want to thank my fellow leaders for their partnership.  Here in Seoul, we’ve laid out the steps we must take to realize the balanced and sustained growth that we need.  And now and in the days ahead, these are the commitments that we’re going to have to meet.

      So with that, let me take a few questions.  And I’ll start off with Julianna Goldman of Bloomberg.

      Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  A question on the South Korea free trade agreement.  If U.S. concerns on autos and beef aren’t adequately addressed over the next few weeks, at that point would it be better to just have no deal at all?

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’ve always said that I’m not interested in signing a trade agreement just for the sake of an announcement.  I’m interested in trade agreements that increase jobs and exports for the United States, and hopefully also increase opportunities for our trading partners.  I think that is achievable between the United States and Korea.

      But the whole issue here from my perspective, and has always been over the last couple of years, is do we have a deal that works for us?  That’s my first obligation.  President Lee’s obligation obviously is to make sure it works for Korea.  I think we can get a win-win, but it was important to take the extra time so that I am assured that it is a win for American workers and American companies as well as for Korean workers and Korean companies, because I’m the one who’s going to have to go to Congress and sell it.

      And from my perspective, again, I’m not interested in a announcement but then an agreement that doesn’t produce for us.  We’ve had a lot of those in the past -- a lot of announcements but, at the same time, we see American manufacturing deteriorate and, as a consequence, a lot of concern back home.  And understandably, I think there’s a lot of suspicion that some of these trade deals may not be good for America.  I think this one can be but I want to make sure that when I present that trade agreement to Congress I am absolutely confident that we’ve got the kind of deal that is good for both countries.

      Dan Lothian of CNN.

      Q    Thank you.  After the midterm elections you said that you were open to compromise on the Bush tax cuts.  I’m wondering if you’re prepared today to say that you’re willing to accept a temporary extension for the wealthiest Americans?  And then on an unrelated question, do you feel that the election has weakened you on the global stage?

      THE PRESIDENT:  The answer to the second question is no.  I think what we’ve seen over the last several days as we’ve traveled through Asia is that people are eager to work with America, eager to engage with America on economic issues, on security issues, on a whole range of mutual interests.  And that’s especially true in Asia, where we see such enormous potential.  This is the fastest-growing part of the world.  And we’ve got to be here and we’ve got to work.  And I’m absolutely confident that my administration over the next two years is going to continue to make progress in ensuring that the United States has a presence here not just for the next couple of years but for decades to come.

      With respect to the Bush tax cuts, what I’ve said is that I’m going to meet with both the Republican and Democratic leaders late next week and we’re going to sit down and discuss how we move forward.  My number-one priority is making sure that we make the middle-class tax cuts permanent, that we give certainty to the 98 percent of Americans who are affected by those tax breaks. I don’t want to see their income taxes spike up -- not only because they need relief after having gone through a horrendous recession, but also because it would be bad for the economy.

      I continue to believe that extending permanently the upper-income tax cuts would be a mistake and that we can’t afford it.  And my hope is, is that somewhere in between there we can find some sort of solution.  But I’m not going to negotiate here in Seoul.  My job is to negotiate back in Washington with Republican and Democratic leaders.

      Ben Feller of AP.

      Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You came to Asia talking about the deep frustration that Americans feel about the slow pace of recovery in the economy, and over your travels in the past 10 days you’ve been talking a lot about sustainable growth. But the American people don’t seem as interested in gradual growth as much as they want real, noticeable help right now.  Can you promise them that there will be, in fact, noticeable job growth during your four-year term?  And do you think that the unemployment rate will still be north of 9 percent when you run for reelection?

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t have a crystal ball, Ben, but I will say this.  First of all, we’ve grown the economy by a million jobs over the last year.  So that’s pretty noticeable.  I think those million people who’ve been hired notice those paychecks.  And that’s 10 consecutive months of private sector job growth.

      In order to speed up job growth, we’ve put forward a range of proposals that I hope to discuss with Democratic and Republican leaders -- because I don’t think we can just stand pat.  I continue to believe that we need to invest in a creaky infrastructure back home.  And I think as you travel around Asia, you start seeing other countries investing in infrastructure.  That’s what the United States has done in the past, but we’ve been living off the investments that we made back in the ’30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.  And it’s time for us to make sure that we’ve upgraded our roads and our railways and our airports.  That will make us more productive and will put people back to work right now.

      I continue to believe that it is important for us to work with businesses to see if we can incentivize them to invest now rather than holding cash waiting for the future.  They’ve got cash to spend.  And so we’ve put forward a series of tax proposals that historically Republicans have supported.  And my expectation would be there’s no reason for them not to support it just because I’m supporting it.  And so that’s a conversation that I hope to have next week.

      But we have a recovery.  It needs to be speeded up.  Government can’t hire back the 8 million people who lost their jobs.  Ultimately that’s up to the private sector.  But I think we can set the conditions whereby we’re seeing significant improvement during the course of the next year, the next two years, and we can chip away at the unemployment rate so that we get back to the kinds of levels that reflect a growing middle class and increased opportunity for all people.

      Jake Tapper.

      Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  This communiqué has a commitment that all countries will refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies.  I’m wondering what you think that means concretely when it comes to China’s behavior, what you expect from them?

      And also I’m wondering, when it comes to Congress, if you think your party, the Democratic Party, would benefit from new blood, new leadership?

      THE PRESIDENT:  I’ve been very clear and persistent since I came into office that we welcome China’s rise; we think the fact that China has grown as remarkably as it has, has lifted millions of people out of poverty, and that is ultimately good for the world and good for America -- because it means that China has the opportunity to be a responsible partner.  It means that China can be an enormous market for the United States, for Korea, for countries throughout Asia and around the world.  And it’s just good to get people out of poverty and give them opportunity.

      What I’ve also said is that precisely because of China’s success, it’s very important that it act in a responsible fashion internationally.  And the issue of the RNB is one that is an irritant not just to the United States, but is an irritant to a lot of China’s trading partners and those who are competing with China to sell goods around the world.  It is undervalued.  And China spends enormous amounts of money intervening in the market to keep it undervalued.

      And so what we’ve said is it’s important for China in a gradual fashion to transition to a market-based system.  Now, this is something that China has done in the past.  And China has also acknowledged that it needs to transition to a more balanced growth strategy internally where they're focusing on their enormous domestic market and giving their people the opportunity to buy goods and services and consume -- all of which will promote their growth, but also will reduce some of the imbalances around the world.

      And so what this communiqué I think communicates -- not just to China but to all of us -- is letting currencies reflect market fundamentals, allowing your currency to move up and down, depending on the role that you're playing in the international trading system, is the best way to assure that everybody benefits from trade rather than just some.  And the communiqué strongly communicates that principle.

      My expectation is that China is going to make progress on this issue.  President Hu is going to be visiting me in Washington in January, and our hope and expectation is, is that we will continue to see progress on this front.

      It means some adjustments for China.  And so we understand that this is not solved overnight.  But it needs to be dealt with and I'm confident that it can be.

      Sheryl Stolberg.  Oh -- I think that what we will naturally see is a whole bunch of talented people rise to the top as they promote good ideas that attract the American people when it comes to jobs and investment and how to grow the economy and how to deal with our challenges.  I think Speaker Pelosi has been an outstanding partner for me.  I think Harry Reid has been a terrific partner in moving some very difficult legislation forward.  And I'm looking forward to working with the entire leadership team to continue to make progress on the issues that are important to the American people.

      Sheryl.

      Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I'm hoping to get you in a little bit of a reflective mode.  You spoke in your press conference in D.C. about your relationship with the American people.  You said then that it had built slowly, it peaked at this incredible high, and then during the course of the last two years it had gotten rockier and tougher.  And I'm wondering if you think the same could be said of your relations with foreign leaders, who maybe were just a teensy bit falling all over you when you first arrived on the world stage.

      THE PRESIDENT:  That's not how I remember it.  I remember our first G20 you guys writing the exact same stories you're writing now about the exact same issues.  Don't you remember that, Sheryl?  (Laughter.)

      The United States, obviously, has a special role to play on the international stage, regardless of who is President.  We are a very large, very wealthy, very powerful country.  We have had outsized influence over world affairs for a century now.  And you are now seeing a situation in which a whole host of other countries are doing very well and coming into their own, and naturally they are going to be more assertive in terms of their interests and ideas.  And that's a healthy thing.  That's why we now have a G20 -- because the old arrangements didn’t fully reflect these new realities.

      But let’s just reflect on this summit.  The Framework for Balanced and Sustainable Growth is one that we helped to originate.  The financial reforms and Basel III are based on ideas that came out of our work and reflect many of the principles that are in Dodd-Frank.  The development document that was set forward in this communiqué tracks the development ideas that I put forward several weeks ago in terms of how we can encourage not just aid, but also self-sufficiency.  The corruption initiative that's reflected in the communiqué was prompted by recommendations and suggestions that we made.

      So sometimes, I think, naturally there’s an instinct to focus on the disagreements, because otherwise, these summits might not be very exciting -- it’s just a bunch of world leaders sitting around intervening.  And so there’s a search for drama.  But what’s remarkable is that in each of these successive summits we've actually made real progress.

      And sometimes the progress -- charting the progress requires you to go back and look at previous summits, starting off with -- let’s say, on financial regulatory -- in Toronto, we said, here’s what we need to do; let’s have this ready by the time we get to Seoul.  It wasn’t real sexy back in Toronto and nobody really wrote about it, but it actually moved the ball forward in terms of a coordinated response to financial regulation.

      IMF reform is something that the United States has said we need to get done.  And in previous summits, we said we’re going to find a way to get that done.  And lo and behold, here we are at this summit and we’ve actually achieved what is a huge shift in how power is assigned in these international financial institutions.

      So the work that we do here is not always going to seem dramatic.  It’s not always going to be immediately world-changing.  But step by step, what we’re doing is building stronger international mechanisms and institutions that will help stabilize the economy, ensure economic growth and reduce some tensions.

      Now, last point I’ll make on this:  Part of the reason that sometimes it seems as if the United States is attracting some dissent is because we’re initiating ideas.  We’re putting them forward.  The easiest thing for us to do would be to take a passive role and let things just drift, which wouldn’t cause any conflict.  But we thought it was important for us to put forward more structure to this idea of balanced and sustained growth.  And some countries pushed back.  They were concerned about what might this -- is this somehow going to lock us in to having to change our growth patterns or our trade policies or what have you.  And that resistance is natural.  It arises out of the fact that the U.S. is showing leadership and we are pushing to try to bring about changes.

      Q    -- leaders and if you had noticed any change during your time in office --

      THE PRESIDENT:  And I guess what I’m saying is, is that I actually think that my relationships have grown much stronger with the people who I’ve worked with here.

      When I first came into office, people might have been interested in more photo ops because there had been a lot of hoopla surrounding my election.  But I now have a genuine friendship with Prime Minister Singh of India and I think that he and I share a level of understanding and interest in working together that didn’t exist when I first came onto the scene.  I think the same is true for Chancellor Merkel; the same is true for Prime Minister Erdogan; the same is true for President Lee.

      That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be differences, but -- the same is true for my relationship with President Hu.  It wasn’t any easier to talk about currency when I had just been elected and my poll numbers were at 65 percent than it is now.  It was hard then and it’s hard now.  Because this involves the interests of countries and not all of these are going to be resolved easily.  And it’s not just a function of personal charm. It’s a function of countries’ interests and seeing if we can work through to align them.

      All right.  Savannah Guthrie.

      Q    A quick follow-up.  Some are interpreting your senior advisor David Axelrod’s comments to a newspaper back home that your compromise position is to temporarily extend the Bush tax cuts.  Is that the wrong interpretation?

      THE PRESIDENT:  That is the wrong interpretation because I haven’t had a conversation with Republican and Democratic leaders.  Here’s the right interpretation.  I want to make sure that taxes don’t go up for middle-class families starting on January 1st.  That’s my number-one priority -- for those families and for our economy.

      I also believe that it would be fiscally irresponsible for us to permanently extend the high-income tax cuts.  I think that would be a mistake, particularly when we’ve got our Republican friends saying that their number-one priority is making sure that we deal with our debt and our deficit.

      So there may be a whole host of ways to compromise around those issues.  I’m not going to negotiate here in Seoul on those issues.  But I’ve made very clear what my priorities are.

      Q    Oh, sorry, that was actually my quick follow-up --

      THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I see.  (Laughter.)

      Q    -- but this leads me right to my real question, which is, speaking of fiscal responsibility, given the fact that the bulk of the expense of extending the tax cuts to the middle class would be trillions of dollars, in the interest of telling the truth to the American people, can we afford that?  Thank you.

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, the middle class in the United States saw their real wages go down 5 percent over the period of 2001 to 2009, at the same time as all their costs were going up.  And so giving them permanent relief is good for those families.  I also believe strongly it is good for our economy right now, at a time when we are still in recovery.

      The costs are significant and we are going to have to have a discussion about over the medium and long term how do we match up our spending with our revenues -- because right now they are way out of balance.  That’s why we have a deficit.  That’s why we have a debt.  And it is our responsibility to the next generation to make sure that that gets solved.

      I don’t start thinking on the revenue side.  I start thinking on the spending side -- where can we potentially save money?  I’m looking forward to getting the official Bowles-Simpson recommendations.  I’m going to study those carefully, consult widely, and see what we can do on the spending side that will have an impact.  And then we’ve got to see how much of a shortfall do we have.  And then we’re going to have to have a debate, which will probably be a tough debate and has to be an honest debate with the American people about how do we pay for those things that we think are really important.

      I think it is really important for us to invest in research and development because that’s going to be the key to innovation and our long-term economic success.  But we’ve got to figure out how to pay for that.  I think it’s really important to invest in our education system.  That’s going to be a key to our long-term economic growth and competitiveness.  How are we going to pay to make sure that young people can go to college?  I think it’s important to make sure that Social Security and Medicare are there not just for this generation but for the next.  How do we make that sustainable?

      So that’s going to be a series of tough conversations.  What I know is that if we’re spending $700 billion -- if we’re borrowing $700 billion to pay for tax breaks for folks like me who don’t need them and where I’m least likely to spend that money and circulate it in the economy, that’s probably not a great approach.

      But, again, I know that the other side feels very strongly about it and I’m willing to have a tough, hard-headed discussion with Democratic and Republican leaders about that issue.

      Chip Reid.

      Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I know it’s not your habit to comment on Fed decisions, but there’s been quite a bit of reporting, if you believe it, and I’m sure you do, that there’s quite a bit of unhappiness among G20 countries over that decision.  And I’m not asking you to comment on the decision.  But did you get an earful from other leaders here on the Fed decision?  Could you share with us what some of them said?  And if you’re not willing to delve too deeply into that, what was the number-one complaint, concern, or piece of advice that you got from foreign leaders about the U.S. economy and your stewardship of the economy?

      THE PRESIDENT:  What about compliments?  You didn’t put that in the list.  There was only complaints, concerns, or -- (laughter.)  You know, there was not a lot of discussion about the Fed decision in the leaders’ meetings.  I think a couple of times there were some veiled references to monetary policy that may have effect on other countries.  But it wasn’t central to any of the discussions that we had.

      I know that on the margins, there was a lot of discussion -- and in the press, there was a huge amount of discussion about it. But I have to tell you that wasn’t part of the discussion that we had inside the leaders’ meetings.

      Most of the discussion had to do with how do we translate this idea of rebalancing into concrete steps.  And the communiqué accurately reflects the consensus.  It’s puzzling to me that the reporting is all talking about conflict when the communiqué actually reflects a hard-won consensus that the world’s 20 largest economies signed up for and that gives us some mechanisms to start monitoring, looking at indicators, seeing how countries are doing on this front.

      It doesn’t provide an enforcement mechanism that says to Korea or the United States or Germany or Brazil you have to do something, but it does give the international community the ability to monitor and see exactly what countries are doing, and to see if the policies they're pursuing are fair to their trading partners.  And if they're not, then it gives a mechanism to apply at least some peer pressure on those countries to start doing something about it.

      I think when people talk to me about the U.S. economy, their main concern is, is it growing fast enough.  Because a lot of countries, including South Korea, depend a lot on exports and the U.S. is the world’s largest market.  They want to see us grow.  They want unemployment to go down in the United States.  And so I think they're very interested in what are additional strategies that can be used to encourage take-off in the U.S. economy.  And I described to them some of the steps that we’re taking and that we’re going to be continuing to take in order to make that happen.

      I guess the last point I would just make about the Fed decision, when I am asked about it my simple point is to say that, from everything I can see, this decision was not one designed to have an impact on the currency, on the dollar.  It was designed to grow the economy.

      And there’s some legitimate concern that we’ve had very low inflation, that a huge danger in the United States is deflation, and that we have to be mindful of those dangers going forward because that wouldn't be good for the United States or for the rest of the world.

      Beyond that, that's just an observation about what I think the intent was.

      Last question -- Scott Horsley.

      Q    One of your top advisors said this morning that the challenges facing the G20 now are much more manageable than they were at the height of the crisis.  How does that affect the dynamic?  Is there some taking the eye off the ball among your fellow leaders?

      THE PRESIDENT:  I think what it means is that in the absence of crisis people probably are willing to hunker down a little bit more on some of the negotiations.  Speed seems less of the essence, and so people think, well, if it doesn’t get solved now maybe we can put this off for another day.

      What’s remarkable to me, though, is despite some of those impulses we're still getting stuff done.  And as I emphasized before, we should not anticipate that every time countries come together that we are doing some revolutionary thing.  Instead of hitting home runs, sometimes we're going to hit singles.  But they’re really important singles.  And I just listed some of these out.  

      IMF reform -- this is something that folks have been talking about for a decade or more.  It’s gotten done.  Financial regulatory reform -- huge lift -- that we talked about in my first G20 summit, it is now coming to fruition.  We've still got some more work to do but we've made enormous progress in a huge  -- really short period of time.  Basel II I think took a decade to negotiate; we got this done basically in a year and a half.

      The development agenda that's been put forward will make a difference.  This rebalancing is still a work in progress, but everybody is on record now saying surplus countries and deficit countries both have to be mindful of their policies and think about the adjustments that they need so that we can sustain economic growth and keep our borders open to goods and services over the long term.

      So those are all positives, and I think that's an indication of the seriousness with which people take these meetings -- even if, as I said, it’s not always going to be revolutionary progress but sometimes evolutionary progress.

      I feel obliged to take maybe one question from the Korean press -- since you guys have been such excellent hosts.  Anybody? This gentleman right here -- he’s got his hand up.  He’s the only one who took me up on it.  Go ahead.  And I'll probably need a translation, though, if you're asking the question in Korean.  In fact, I definitely will need a translation.  (Laughter.)

      Q    Unfortunately, I hate to disappoint you, President Obama, I'm actually Chinese.  (Laughter.)   

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it’s wonderful to see you.

      Q    But I think I get to represent the entire Asia.

      THE PRESIDENT:  Absolutely.

      Q    We're one family here in this part of the world.

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, your English is better than my Mandarin also.  (Laughter.)  But -- now, in fairness, though, I did say that I was going to let the Korean press ask a question. So I think that you held up your hand anyway.

      Q    How about will my Korean friends allow me to ask a question on your behalf?  Yes or no?

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it depends on whether there’s a Korean reporter who would rather have the question.  No, no takers?

      Q    (Inaudible.)

      THE PRESIDENT:  This is getting more complicated than I expected.  (Laughter.)

      Q    Take quick, one question from an Asian, President Obama.

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, the -- as I said, I was going to -- go ahead and ask your question, but I want to make sure that the Korean press gets a question as well.

      Q    Okay.  My question is very simple.  You mentioned interpretation.  I know part of the difficulty being the American President is that some of the decisions that you take, actions you make will be interpreted in a way that are not what you thought they would be or what you meant they would be.  For instance, some of the actions you’ve taken were interpreted as anti-business, domestically, in the United States.  And as someone just mentioned, some of the actions taken by the U.S. government that you represent as well were interpreted as sacrificing other countries’ interests for America’s own benefit. So you find yourself constantly being interpreted in a thousand different ways.  How do you address these interpretations?

      THE PRESIDENT:  With a wonderful press conference like this that give me the opportunity hopefully to provide my own interpretation.  But, look, you make a valid point.  We live in a connected world.  Everything I say, everything my administration does, anything one of my aides does is interpreted in one fashion or another.  In America we call it spin.  And there’s a spin cycle that is going on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  And I think that in this media environment, it is in some ways more challenging to make sure that your message and your intentions are getting out in a consistent basis.

      But I think that if I’m consistent with my actions and I’m consistent with my goals, then over time hopefully people look at my overall trajectory and they can draw accurate conclusions about what we’re trying to do.

      With respect to business, for example, we’ve had in the United States some battles between myself and some in the business community around issues like financial regulation or health care.  At the same time, I’ve said repeatedly and I said on this trip, we can’t succeed unless American businesses succeed.  And I’m going to do everything I can to promote their ability to grow and prosper and to sell their goods both in the United States and abroad.  And the fact that the economy is now growing and trade is expanding and the stock market is up I think is an indication that I mean what I say.  And hopefully by the end of my administration businesses will look back and say, you know what, actually the guy was pretty good for business -- even if at any given point in the road they may be frustrated.

      So -- all right, now I’m stuck with this last one but I think I’ve got to go fly a plane.

      Q    (Inaudible.)

      THE PRESIDENT:  Right.

      Q    What led your administration to decide to try and extract further concessions from Korea on imports of American beef?  And did you miscalculate the extent that this appears to be non-negotiable here in Korea?  Do you really think you can convince people living in Korea to buy more American beef?

      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, beef was not the only issue that was of concern.  In fact, a larger concern had to do with autos.  And the concern is very simple.  We have about 400,000 Korean autos in the United States and a few thousand American cars here in Korea.  And people are concerned about whether the standards, the non-tariff barriers with respect to autos is something that is preventing us from being able to compete with very good products.

      Now, I think that we can find a sweet spot that works both for Korea and the United States.  But I repeat, I’m not interested in trade agreements just for the sake of trade agreements.  I want trade agreements that work for the other side, but my main job is to look out for the American people, American workers and American businesses.  And I want to make sure that this deal is balanced.  And so we’re going to keep on working on it.  But I’m confident we can get it done.

      All right, thank you very much, everybody.  I’m late for my flight.  (Applause.)

                   END                      5:30 P.M. KST

Remarks by President Obama and German Chancellor Merkel before Bilateral Meeting

Grand Hyatt Hotel

Seoul, Republic of Korea

5:22 P.M. KST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  It is a great pleasure to have a chance to meet with Chancellor Merkel.  Not only do I have great personal admiration for her, but obviously the strong alliance between our two countries is one of the cornerstones of prosperity and peace not just in the transatlantic relationship but in the world.

And we are very proud of the work that we've been doing together -- as NATO allies, we obviously have a lot to talk about with respect to issues like Afghanistan; on economic issues, as G20 members, but also as two of the world’s largest economies, making sure that we can continue with the balanced and sustainable growth that all of us seek.  

So I'm looking forward to a productive meeting not just here with Chancellor Merkel but as part of the G20.  And I'm confident that, as a consequence of the work that we have been doing and will continue to do, that we are going to be able to put the world on a path that ensures strong growth and opportunity for both of our peoples.

So it’s wonderful to see you again.

CHANCELLOR MERKEL:  (As translated.)  Well, I, too, am very glad to have had the opportunity to meet again.  I think we personally haven’t met since the Toronto meetings, so I think it’s a very good thing to yet again demonstrate that we are willing to share responsibility together and to use this meeting here to send a signal, really, a good signal for our global growth.  

We have worked well together and continue to work well together on a number of areas, and I think in very crucial areas. And I think it’s very necessary to work together because only together will we be able to tackle the crucial problems in the world today -- problems and issues such as Afghanistan, the upcoming NATO summit meeting, and also obviously this meeting of the G20.  

So I am confident that here, too, we shall continue to share responsibility and to work well together.

END
5:26 P.M. KST

Remarks by the President Honoring Veterans Day in Seoul, South Korea

U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan

Seoul, South Korea

10:53 A.M. KST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Yongsan!

AUDIENCE:  Hoaa! (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, it is wonderful to be here.  Give another round of applause to Army Specialist Courtney Newby for the great introduction.  (Applause.)

A few other people that I want to just make mention of:  We are so proud and want to thank our outstanding representatives here in the Republic of Korea -- Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and General Skip Sharp.  Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

A former colleague of mine in the Illinois state senate who is now a congressman from the great state of Illinois, Peter Roskam, is with us here today.  So give him a big round of applause.  Where’s Peter?  Where is he?  There he is up there.  (Applause.)

And our great friend and ally from the Republic of Korea is here -- General Jung is here.  Give him a big round of applause  -- Deputy Commander Combined Forces. (Applause.)  A few other people I want to give thanks to:  Lieutenant General John Johnson.  (Applause.)  Command Sergeant Major Robert Winzenried. (Applause.)  

We are so proud to have with us U.S. and Republic of Korea vets of the Korean War who are here.  And we are greatly honored by their presence.  (Hoaa!)  (Applause.)

And I want to make special mention of one of them -- Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Hector Cafferata, Jr.  Please give him an extraordinary round of applause.  (Applause.)

It is an enormous honor to be here at Yongsan Garrison.  As President of the United States, I have no greater privilege than serving as Commander-in-Chief of the finest military that the world has ever known.  (Hoaa!)  And on this Veterans Day, there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with U.S. Forces Korea.  (Hoaa!)

We’ve got the 8th Army in the house.  (Hoaa!)  We’ve got members of the 7th Air Force. (Hoaa!)  We’ve got U.S. Navy Forces Korea.  (Hoaa!) We’ve got just about every Marine in South Korea here today.  (Oorah!) (Laughter.)  Happy birthday, Marines, by the way.  (Oorah!)  And we’ve got a whole lot of DOD civilians, too.  So we are very proud of you.  (Applause.)

It’s good to see some spouses and family members in the audience.  You bear the burden of your loved one’s service in ways that are often immeasurable –- an empty chair at the dinner table or another holiday where mom and dad are someplace far away.  So I want you to know that this nation recognizes the sacrifices of families, as well.  And we are grateful for your service, as well.  

Now, on this day, we honor every man and woman who has ever worn the uniform of the United States of America.  We salute fallen heroes, and keep in our prayers those who are still in harm’s way -– like the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  (Hoaa!)

We recall acts of uncommon bravery and selflessness.  But we also remember that honoring those who’ve served is about more than the words we say on Veterans Day or Memorial Day.  It’s about how we treat our veterans every single day of the year.  It’s about making sure they have the care they need and the benefits that they’ve earned when they come home.  It’s about serving all of you as well as you’ve served the United States of America.    

This has been one of my highest priorities since taking office.  It’s why I asked for one of the largest increases in the VA budget in the past 30 years.  It’s why we’ve dramatically increased funding for veterans’ health care.  It’s why we’re improving care for wounded warriors, especially those with Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury.  It’s why we’re working to eliminate the backlog at the VA and reforming the entire process with electronic claims and medical records.  It’s why there are fewer homeless veterans on the streets than there were two years ago.  (Hoaa!)

That's why there are nearly 400,000 veterans and their families who are going to college because of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.  (Hoaa!)  (Applause.)

So I want all of you to know when you come home your country is going to be there for you.  That is the commitment I make to you as Commander-in-Chief.  That is the sacred trust between the United States of America and all who defend its ideals.  

It’s a trust that’s been forged in places far from our shores:  from the beaches of Europe to the jungles of Vietnam, from the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to the peninsula where we stand today.

Sixty years have come and gone since the communist armies first crossed the 38th Parallel.  Within three days, they’d captured Seoul.  By the end of the next month, they had driven the Korean army all the way south, to Pusan.  And from where things stood in the summer of 1950, it didn’t appear that the Republic of Korea would survive much longer.  

At the time, many Americans had probably never heard of Korea.  It had only been five years since we had finished fighting the last war.  But we knew that if we allowed the unprovoked invasion of a free nation, then all free nations would be threatened.  And so, for the first time since its creation, the United Nations voted to use armed forces to repel the attack from North Korea.  

And so on September 15, 1950, American forces landed at Inchon.  The conditions they fought under were some of the worst that Americans had ever experienced.  The temperature reached more than 30 below zero in the winter, over 100 degrees in the summer.  In many places, Americans and our Korean allies were outgunned and outmanned, sometimes by as much as 20 to 1.  At one point, they were hit with 24,000 artillery shells a day.  By the end, the fighting had sometimes devolved into trench warfare, waged on hands and knees in the middle of the night.  

And yet, our soldiers fought on.  Nearly 37,000 Americans would give their lives in Korea -- 37,000.  But after three years of fighting, our forces finally succeeded in driving the invading armies back over the 38th Parallel.  (Hoaa!) One war historian said that while he believed Korea was “the greatest of all trials” for American troops, their performance was “nothing short of miraculous.”    

Many of the men responsible for this miracle were only teenagers.  Others had just finished fighting in the Second World War.  Most would go home to raise their families and live out their lives.  And sixty-two veterans of the Korean War have returned to be with us here today.  (Hoaa!) (Applause.)       

Gentlemen, we are honored by your presence.  We are grateful for your service.  The world is better off because of what you did here.  And for those who can, I would ask that, again, you receive the thanks of a grateful nation.  If any -- actually, they’re all standing now so it looks like they’re doing great.  (Hoaa!)  But please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)  

I also want to recognize the Korean soldiers who battled side by side with our own.  These men fought bravely and sacrificed greatly for their country, and some of them have joined us here as well.  So, thank you, friends.  (Applause.)   Katchi Kapshida.  (Hoaa!)  We go together. (Applause.)    

The veterans who have traveled here today saw battle at the Inchon landing and the Pusan Perimeter.  They survived the bloodshed at Heartbreak Ridge and the ambush at Chosin Reservoir. At one point in that battle, the enemy tossed a grenade into a trench where multiple Marines lay wounded.  And that is where Private Hector Cafferata ran into that trench, picked up that grenade and threw it back.  It detonated in his hand and severely injured his arm.  But because of what he did, Private Cafferata served the lives of his fellow Marines. (Applause.)  He received the Medal of Honor for his heroism.  He is here today.  Again, please give him an incredible -- (applause.)

Each of these men served their nation with incredible courage and commitment.  They left their homes and their families and risked their lives in what’s often been called “the forgotten war.”  So today, we all want you to know this:  We remember.  We remember your courage.  We remember your sacrifice.  And the legacy of your service lives on in a free and prosperous Republic of Korea.   

Real change comes slowly. Many people don’t live to see the difference they’ve made in the lives of others.  But for the men and women who have served on this peninsula, all you have to do is look around.  Whether you’re a veteran who landed in 1950 or one of the Yongsan troops today, the security you’ve provided has made possible one of the great success stories of our time.

There are Koreans who can still remember when this country was little more than rice paddies and villages that would flood during monsoon season.  Not two generations later, highways and skyscrapers line the horizon of one of the most prosperous, fastest-growing democracies in all of the world.  That progress has transformed the lives of millions of people.

And you should know, one of these people is a man who went from grinding poverty to the presidency of this country.   When I visited last year, I had lunch with President Lee, who I’ll be seeing later today, and he shared with me his story of what it was like growing up poor as a child in Korea.  And he said, “I hope the American people understand how grateful we are for what you’ve done, because we would not be the strong, prosperous nation we are were it not for the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States military.”  That’s from the President of this country.

Because the Korean War ended where it began geographically, some ended up using the phrase “Die for a Tie” to describe the sacrifices of those who fought here.  But as we look around in this thriving democracy and its grateful, hopeful citizens, one thing is clear:  This was no tie.  This was victory. (Hoaa!)  (Applause.)  

This was a victory then, and it is a victory today.  And 60 years later, a friendship that was forged in a war has become an alliance that has led to greater security and untold progress -- not only in the Republic of Korea, but throughout Asia.  That is something that everyone here can be extraordinarily proud of.

Now, it’s also a reminder of what still lies on the other side of the 38th Parallel.  Today, the Korean Peninsula provides the world’s clearest contrast between a society that is open and a society that is closed; between a nation that is dynamic and growing, and a government that would rather starve its people than change.  It’s a contrast that’s so stark you can see it from space, as the brilliant lights of Seoul give way to the utter darkness of the North.

This is not an accident of history. This is a direct result of the path that’s been taken by North Korea -- a path of confrontation and provocation; one that includes the pursuit of nuclear weapons and the attack on the Cheonan last March.  

And in the wake of this aggression, Pyongyang should not be mistaken:  The United States will never waver in our commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea.  We will not waver.  (Huaa!)  (Applause.)  

The alliance between our two nations has never been stronger, and along with the rest of the world, we’ve made it clear that the North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons will only lead to more isolation and less security for them.

There is another path available to North Korea.  If they choose to fulfill their international obligations and commitments to the international community, they will have the chance to offer their people lives of growing opportunity instead of crushing poverty -- a future of greater security and greater respect; a future that includes the prosperity and opportunity available to citizens on this end of the Korean Peninsula.

Until that day comes, the world can take comfort in knowing that the men and women of the United States armed forces are standing watch on freedom’s frontier.  (Hoaa!)  In doing so, you carry on the legacy of service and sacrifice that we saw from those who landed here all those years ago.  It’s a legacy we honor and cherish on this Veterans Day.

At the Korean War Memorial in Washington, there’s a plaque right near the inscription that lists the number of Americans who were killed, wounded, missing in action, and held as prisoners of war.  And it says:  “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”

A country they never knew and a people they never met.  I know of no better words to capture the selflessness and generosity of every man or woman who has ever worn the uniform of the United States of America.  At a time when it has never been more tempting or accepted to pursue narrow self-interest and personal ambition, all of you here remind us that there are few things that are more fundamentally American than doing what we can to make a difference in the lives of others.

And that’s why you’ll always be the best that America has to offer the world.  And that is why people who never met you, who never knew you, will always be grateful to the friend and ally they found in the United States of America.  

So thank you for your service.  May God bless you.  And may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
11:12 A.M. KST

Remarks by the President in a Toast at the State Dinner in Jakarta, Indonesia

Istana Merdeka

Jakarta, Indonesia
November 9, 2010

10:01 P.M. WIT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  President Yudhoyono, Mrs. Yudhoyono, to all the distinguished guests who are here today, thank you for this extraordinary honor.  I am proud and humbled to accept this award on behalf of my mother.  And although she could not be here in person, I know that my sister Maya Soetoro would be equally proud.

Now, I’m going to have the opportunity to speak tomorrow and so I will try to keep my remarks brief.  First of all, thank you for the bakso. (Laughter.)  The nasi goring.  (Applause.)  The emping. (Laughter.)  The kerupuk.  (Laughter.)  Semuanya enak. (Laughter.)  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  

But the fact, Mr. President, that you would choose to recognize my mother in this way speaks to the bonds that she forged over many years with the people of this magnificent country.  And in honoring her, you honor the spirit that led her to travel into villages throughout the country, often on the back of motorcycles, because that was the only way to get into some of these villages.

She believed that we all share common aspirations -- to live in dignity and security, to get an education, to provide for our families, to give our children a better future, to leave the world better than we found it.  She also believed, by the way, in the importance of educating girls and empowering women, because she understood that when we provide education to young women, when we honor and respect women, that we are in fact developing the entire country.  That’s what kept bringing my mother back to this country for so many years.  That’s the lesson that she passed on to me and that’s the lesson that Michelle and I try to pass on to our daughters.  

So on behalf of our entire family, we thank you.  I am deeply moved. It is this same largeness of heart that compels us tonight to keep in our thoughts and prayers all those who are suffering who from the eruptions and the tsunami and the earthquake.  With so many in need tonight, that’s one more reason for me to keep my remarks short.

As a young boy in Menteng Dalam 40 years ago, I could never imagine that I would one day be hosted here at Istana Negara -- never mind as President of the United States.  I didn’t think I would be stepping into this building ever.  (Laughter and applause.)  

And I know that much has been made about how a young boy could move between such different countries and cultures as Indonesia and the United States. But the truth is, is that our two countries have far more in common than most people realize.  We are two peoples who broke free from colonial rule.  We are both two vast nations that stretch thousands of miles. We are both two societies that find strength in our diversity.  And we are two democracies where power resides in the people.  And so it’s only natural that we should be partners in the world.

I am fortunate to have a very strong partner in President Yudhoyono -- Indonesia’s first directly elected president, and a leader who has guided this nation through its journey into democracy.  And our two nations are fortunate that we are forging a partnership for the 21st century.  And as we go forward, I’m reminded of a proverb:  bagai aur dengan tebing -- like bamboo and the river bank, we rely on each other.  

And so I would like to propose a toast.  In the spirit of friendship between our two countries, we are reminded of the truth that no nation is an island, not even when you’re made up of thousands of islands.  We all rely on each other together, like bamboo and the river bank.  And like my mother riding between villages on a motorcycle, we are all stronger and safer when we see our common humanity in each other.

So President Yudhoyono, and to all the distinguished who are here, thank you for your extraordinary friendship and the warmth with which you have received Michelle and myself.  And I promise that it won’t take so long before I come back.

(A toast is offered.)

END
10:08 P.M WIT