TODAY IT HAS BEEN MY GREAT HONOR, AND I MEAN THAT TO WELCOME MY DEAR FRIEND BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE. BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, CHANCELLOR MERKEL, I WANT TO EXPRESS TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES AND THE CONDOLENCES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF LIFE AND THE DESTRUCTION DUE TO THE FLOODING OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS IN GERMANY AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND IT IS A TRAGEDY, AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES. CHANCELLOR MERKEL HAS BEEN HERE FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST 16 YEARS AND SHE KNOWS THE OVAL OFFICE AS WELL AS I DO. AT ALL KIDDING ASIDE.
THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATION SHE HAS BEEN THERE FOR FOUR PRESIDENTS BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF HER CHANCELLORSHIP. SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN CHANCELLOR IN GERMAN HISTORY AND THE FIRST CHANCELLOR FROM THE FORMER EAST GERMANY, AND NOW THE SECOND LARGEST AND LONGEST-SERVING CHANCELLOR SINCE HELMUT KOHL AND HERE IS AN EXEMPLARY LIFE OF GROUNDBREAKING SERVICE TO GERMANY, AND I MIGHT ADD AND I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, TO THE WORLD. ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAREER OF A STRONG PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND FOR NEVER FAILING TO DEFEND HUMAN DIGNITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR THE LONG-STANDING GOAL OF YOUR EUROPE WHOLE INTERNET PIECE YOU HAVE BEEN A STALWART CHAMPION OF THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE AND ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP AND UNDER YOUR CHANCELLORSHIP THE FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE U.S. HAS DRAWN -- GROWN STRONGER AND STRONGER.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING MORE AT OUR DINNER THIS EVENING, BUT TODAY, IT WAS VERY MUCH A WORKING VISIT. CHANCELLOR MERKEL AND I COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES WHERE GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES ARE WORKING TO ADVANCE A SHARED AGENDA. WE DISCUSSED TOGETHER WITH OUR FEATURE -- MAJOR DEMOCRACIES GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO LEAD WITH OUR VALUES AS TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF NATO. TODAY, I HAVE CONFIDED THAT IN OUR NEW WASHINGTON DECLARATION, WHICH WE HAVE CODIFIED, A DOCUMENT AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES THAT ARE AT THE HEART OF BOTH OF OUR NATIONS. AND HOW WE WILL APPLY THEM TO MEET THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
BOTH OUR NATIONS, BOTH OF THEM UNDERSTAND THE IMPERATIVE OF PROVING THAT DEMOCRACIES CAN DELIVER THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE 21st CENTURY. WE WILL STAND UP FOR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND UNIVERSAL RIGHTS WHEN WE SEE CHINA OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY WORKING TO UNDERMINE FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY'S. AND WE ARE UNITED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING, CORRUPTION, PHONY POPULISM AND IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND AMONG CANDIDATES FOR THAT YOU MEMBERSHIP OR ANYWHERE WE FIND IT IN THE WORLD.
WE AGREE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FURTHER INTEGRATING THE WESTERN BALKANS INTO THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS. AND IN OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE UKRAINE AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE OF REFORMS AND THE SUPPORT OF THEIR EURO ATLANTIC ASPIRATIONS. WE STAND TOGETHER, AND WE CONTINUE TO STAND TOGETHER TO DEFEND OUR EASTERN ALLIES AT NATO AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. AND WHILE I REITERATED MY CONCERNS ABOUT NORD STREAM 2, WE ARE UNITED IN OUR CONVICTION THAT RUSSIA MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE ENERGIES OR WEAPONS TO COERCE OR THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS. TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING A CLIMATE AND ENERGY PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ENERGY SECURITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND EMERGING ECONOMIES INCLUDING IN CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE UKRAINE AND TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS TO UPEND AND HONOR GLOBAL CLIMATE AMBITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO UP THE ANTE AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE PARIS THE COURT WAS SET WE THOUGHT WE HAD ESTABLISHED JUST HOW SERIOUS IT WAS, BUT THINGS HAVE GOTTEN MUCH MORE DIRE SINCE EVEN THAT DATE. AND WE UNITE OUR EFFORTS TO UP THE ANTE ON GLOBAL CLIMATE AMBITIONS.
I ALSO THANK CHANCELLOR MERKEL FOR THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE OF GERMAN TROOPS WHO HAVE SERVED SIDE-BY-SIDE ALONG WITH U.S. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. WE REAFFIRMED OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING THE COUNTERTERRORIST THREATS WERE WE FIND THEM INCLUDING IN AFRICA. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE WE WANT FOR THE WORLD, THERE IS NO ISSUE SET AT ALL THAT I BELIEVE WE FIND ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CERTAINTY THAT A COMMITMENT THAT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY DOESN'T BENEFIT WHATEVER THE PROBLEM OR CONCERN IS.
WE NEED TO FIGHT COVID-19 PANDEMIC EVERYWHERE TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY FOR TOMORROW SO WE ARE READY FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE RULES OF THE ROAD GOVERN THE USE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND ADVANCED FREEDOM AND NOT AUTHORITARIANISM AND REPRESSION. WE NEED TO PROMOTE A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT ENHANCES THE PROSPERITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL. AND SO MUCH MORE. THIS IS NOT JUST THE WORK OF GOVERNMENTS. IT IS THE WORK OF OUR PEOPLES, SHARING THEIR INNOVATION AND INSIGHTS AND JOINING TOGETHER TO AMPLIFY OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT.
TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING A FUTURES FORUM BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, WHICH WILL BRING TOGETHER TOP EXPERTS ACROSS BUSINESS, ACADEMIA, CIVIL SOCIETY AND MORE, TO COLLABORATE AS WE SHAPE OUR SHARED FUTURE. MADAM CHANCELLOR, I KNOW THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO GROW STRONGER ON THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU HAVE HELPED TO BUILD, BUT ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I MUST TELL YOU, I WILL MISS SEEING YOU AT OUR SUMMITS. I TRULY WILL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, ANGELA, FOR MAKING THE JOURNEY AND ARE PRODUCTIVE MEETING TODAY AND FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. >> 10 FIVE -- [ FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPOKEN ] >> RESPECTIVELY AND ALSO THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE HERE I DID TALK TO THEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE WITH HER SUFFERING AND THAT WE ARE TRYING OUR UTMOST TO HELP THEM IN THEIR DISTRESS AND MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TALK TO YOU AND IT IS MY FIRST VISIT SINCE 2019, AND I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THE PERSONAL EXCHANGE WE HAVE SEEN AGAIN TODAY THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY PARTNERS AND ALLIES, BUT VERY CLOSE FRIENDS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE VERY FRIENDLY EXCHANGE THAT WE HAD THIS AFTERNOON. WE ALL SHARE THE SAME VALUES AND WE ALL SHARE THE SAME DETERMINATION TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES AND TO MASTER THEM. I AM DEEPLY CONVINCED THAT SIMPLY COMMITTING TO THESE VALUES IS CERTAINLY NOT SUFFICIENT.
WE ARE AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE ARE FACING NEW CHALLENGES, AND THESE CHALLENGES NEED TO BE TRANSLATED INTO PRACTICAL POLICIES. I AM VERY GRATEFUL WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON A FOUNDATION AND WE LAY DOWN THOSE FOUNDATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON DECLARATION AND ALSO HOW WE SEE THE ROAD AHEAD AND ALSO MEASURES AND I THINK THIS FUTURE FORUM WILL DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES AND SOCIETIES WILL DISCUSS TOGETHER WHAT SORT OF SOLUTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AND I THINK SUCH STRUCTURES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THERE IS A VERY LARGE DEGREE OF COMMON GROUND AS HAS COME OUT OF OUR TALKS.
WE ARE CONVINCED, BOTH OF US THAT OVERCOMING THIS PANDEMIC IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ARE VACCINATED IN OUR COUNTRIES AND MANY WISH TO DO THAT. WE ALSO HAVE TO SUPPORT THE REST OF THE WORLD WITH VACCINES AND WE WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH KOVACS AND I AM GRATEFUL TO THE UNITED STATES AND UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE U.S. HAS COMMITTED ITSELF VERY CLEARLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY TO MULTILATERALISM ON CLIMATE AND ON BEHALF OF THE WHO AND GERMANY AND BE IT ON CLIMATE OR REFORM OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORT ALSO TO THE WTO GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE AGREED TO PROVIDE VACCINE DOSES TO BOTH COUNTRIES AND WE WILL WORK WITHIN COVAX AS I SAID AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I AM VERY HAPPY THAT THE UNITED STATES IS BACK AGAIN WITH US IN THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT AND GLASGOW AND THAT PROVIDES US WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT BASIS IN DER TO WORK AMONG THE PARTIES TO THE TREATY BETTER IN A MU BETTER AND EFFICIENT WAY R CLIMATE. WE DO SEE COUNTRIES THAT ARE BESOUGHT BY OODING AND WILDFIRES AND BY STORMS AND IN AN INCREASING MANNER AND IT SHOWS THERE IS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SUCH UNUSUAL WEATHER PHOMENA AND WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH TH, GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES, AND WE HAVE NOW FORGED AND ENGY AND CLIMATE PANERSHIP AND I INK IT IS A VERY IMPOANT MESSAGE WE SEND HERE.
WE WANT TO BUILD ON FUTURE ORIENTED TECHNOLOGIES AND GREEN HYDROGEN FOR AMPLE AND COMPETITION WI OTHERS ON THIS PLANET, AND WE ULD LIKE TO BE SUCCSFUL TOGETHER, AND GERMANY ISLOOKING FORWARD TO COOPERATING IN THIS RESPECT. I INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, WHICH W AND NE YEAR AS YOU PROBABLY CHALLENGES OF THPRESIDEN OF THE G7 AND ING THISPROJECT RWARD AND WE TALKED ABT RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE AND WE HAVE COME DIFFERT ASSESSMENTAS TO NORD STREAM 2 AS TWHAT THIS PROJECT ENTAILS. BUT LET ME SAY VERY CLEAY, OUR IDEAIS AND REMAINS AT UKRAINE REMAINS A ANSIT COUNTRY FONATURAL GAS AND AT UKRAINE JUST AS ANOTHER OUNT IN THE WORLD HAS A RIGHTO A SOVEREIGNTY WHICH IS WHY COINUED TO BE IN THATPROCESS E D WE LL ACTIVELY BE ACTING RIT OF UKRAINE TH IT HAS IS A TRANSIT COUNTRY.
SO NORD STAM 2 IS AN ADDITIONALPROJECT BUT T A PROJECT TO REACE ANY KINDOF TRANSIT THAT WOULD CREATE A LOT ABOUT HOW WECAN ACTUALLY KE THISVERY EAR TOGETHER. WE ALSOTALKED OUT OTHER PRIORITIESIN R FOREIG RETIONSHIP WITHCHINA AND WE ARE UNTRS WHO AND UP R STD UP R THOSRIGHTS FOND THOSE WHO LIVEIN THISCIETY. SO R OUR VOICES HED AND MAKE CLEA WE DON'T AGE WITH THIS. OF ALL COUNIES OF THE WORLD. WE MPETITION WITHCHINBE IT IN THECONIC AREA AND BE ON AND ONSERITYAND, OBVISLY, ARY THERES ON THE NUCLR AGREENT WITH IRAN, ORDER TOBRING THIS A IN SUCCESSF COLUSION, BUT I THINK AT IS SOMEING THAT IS ALSOTHE LL IS VE MUCH IN THEICAMPAND OV MANY YES WE SVED TOGETHERIN GHANTAN AND WE HA BEEN ABLE TO I DEGREE TEORIST DANGERS,BUT UNFORTUNELY HAVE NOT BEEN LE TO ILD A NAON AS WE WOULLIKE IT TO LOOK.
PARTNERSHIP D HABEEN A GOOD PARTNERSP WI UNITED STAT L THROUGHOUT E EXRIENCE. SO RY GOODCONTTS BETWEEN OUR SO WE LKEDABOUT WHE TERRORISM IS O FOR EUPE IS IS A GREAT CHALLENGANWE ARE ATEFUL TO THE I PU BA AGAINST THESAIAND TERRORISADVANCES. WE SO HAVE DRAWN -- AGED A RMAN-AMECAN ALOGUE TWEEOUR BUSINESS MMUNITIEBECAE WE HAVE WANT TO BUILONTHIS. D WE OBVIOUSLY T PRE IMPORTANCE. WAS A VERY VERYGOOD I WOULD LI THIS TO REMA EVENFTERI HAVE LEFT FICE I INK WITH TH VISIT, WE PRABLYPAVED THE Y TO KE FORMATS WHERE N EXCHGE, CHALLENGES. E LL OF TINUE
THANK YOU VE MU FOR MAKI IT PO TALE THOSE TOTHER THK YO WE WILL EACHTAKE TWO QUESONS AND WI BEGIN BY REGNIZG STE PONOY AND CONGTULATE PRESIDENTSF THWHITE HOUSE CORRP MY SYMPATHS BUTHANK U. >> I APPRECTE AT AND WE THK YOU AND LOOKFORWARD TO THA I DO HAVEA FEW QUESTIONS R U AN MR. PRESIDEN WI RESPECT TIN ERICA AND TH VELOENTS THE INTHE LAST WE, WH ARE TH CIUMSTCES UNDER WHICYOU WOULSEN THAT IS THFIRST QUESON.
AND THE CURRENT THINNG ON AMICAN SANCTIONTOWA CUBA AND THE BARGO, AND TOY YOUR PRES SECRETA IS A FAIL EOLOGY AND I SUME THAT IS UR VIEWAND WAS WOERINIF YOCOULD GIVE US UR VIEW SOCIALM. AND FOR THCHCELL, THE PRIDENT SAID YOKNOW THE TION IS OVALOFF AND AMNDERING IF U ULD THE AMERICANPRESENTS OV THLAST16 YEARAND CONTST THE CURRENT PRIDENWITH HIS MOST IMMEDIATE PREDESSOR. INTWO NUTEOR LESS. >> VIOUSLY LET START OF ANSWERING THQUESTION LATIVE TO ITI ANCUBA.
AND MMUNI DON'SEE SOCIALISM ASVERY USEFULSUBSTITUTE, BUTHATIS ANOTR STORY. WITH REGARD TO WHETHER TH CIRCUMSTCES IN WHICH WE WOULD SEND MILITARTROOPS TO HAITI. WE ARONLYSENDING AMERIC MANES OUEMBASSY TOMAKE SURE THAT EY ARSECURE AND NOTHING IS OUT OF WHACK ALL AND THE IDEA SENDING AMERIC FORCES INTO HAI IS NOON E AGENDA AT THIS NUER TWO WITH REGARDTO CUB CUBA IT IS, UNFORTATELY, A FAIL THEICITIZENS. THERARE A MBER OF TNGS THAT WE WOD CONSIDER DOINTO HELPHE PEOPLE OF CU, BUT IT WOULD REQUE A DIFFENT CIRCUMSTAN OR A GUARANE THAT THEY WOULDN'T BETAKEN ADVANTAGE WHY THE SEND REMITTCES BACK TO CUBA. I BECAUSE,HE FACT IS, IT IS HIGHLY LILY THE REGIME WOULD BIG CHUNKS OF . REMITTCES OR
WITH REGARD TO THEIR NEED FOR CO THEY VE A PROBLEM THERE AND BA. I WOULD BE PREPAREDTO GIVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTOF VACCINE IFIN FACT THERE WAS A SHT AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZAON WOULD ADMISTER THOSE VACCINES AND DO IN A WAY THAT AVERAGE CITIZE WOULD HAVE ACCESSTO THE. ONE OF E INGS THAT HE DID NOT ASK BUT WERE CONSIDERING AS THEY CUT OFF ACCESS TO INTERNET AND WE E CONSIDERING WHETHER WE HAVE THE CHNOLOGICAL ACCESS. TO REINSTATE THAT
AND I THINK I HAVE ANERED THANK YOU. ONS. >> ALLOW ME IF I MADE TO ELABORATE THREE DIFFERENT INTS AND ANY GEAN CHANCELLOR HAS A VESTED INTEREST TO LK AND THAT'S VERY MUCH IN E VESTED INTEREST IN GERMANY TO WORK AND TALK TOGETHER WITH ANY AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD CONTACTS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AND I THINK IT IS VERY TRANSPARENT AND TODAY IT WAS A VERY FRIENDLY EXCHANGE. SORRY I HAVE TO CALL HIM AND HIS GERMAN QUESTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHANCELLOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, ALLOW ME IF I MADE TO ASK A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO NORD STREAM. YOU JUST SAID YOU WOULD ACT ACTIVELY SHOULD RUSSIA BE IN BREACH OF ITS COMMITMENTS TO INTERRUPT THAT FOR THE UKRAINE AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN FOR GERMANY THEN WITH A SWITCH OFF NORD STREAM FROM THE GERMAN SIDE AND WHAT SORT OF LEGAL GROUNDS WOULD YOU BE CLAIMING? YOU HAVE FOUGHT SO MANY YEARS AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT SO MANY YEARS AGAINST NORD STREAM 2 AND NOW THERE WILL BE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT UNTIL THIS PIPELINE COMES AND OPERATION AND WILL YOU ALLOW IT TO GO AHEAD OR WILL THE PEOPLE WHO OPERATE THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY HAVE TO CONTEND WITH SANCTIONS ON THE HORIZON? EXAMPLE SANCTIONS AS REGARD CRIMEA OR THAT TREATY HAS SHOWN WE DO HAVE THOSE SANCTIONS OR INSTRUMENTS AT OUR DISPOSAL AND WE HAVE POSSIBILITIES AND WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH OUR FRIENDS ON THIS, BUT AT THE POINT IN TIME OF WHICH I HOPE WE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO TAKE THOSE DECISIONS, YOU WILL SEE WHAT WE DO. >> MY VIEW ON NORD STREAM 2 HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SOME TIME AND GOOD FRIENDS CAN DISAGREE.
BUT BY THE TIME I BECAME PRESIDENT, IT WAS 90% COMPLETED AND IMPOSING SANCTIONS DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE. IT MADE MORE SENSE TO WORK WITH THE CHANCELLOR ON FINDING OUT HOW SHE WOULD PROCEED BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT RUSSIA TRIED TO ESSENTIALLY BLACKMAIL UKRAINE IN SOME WAY. SO THE CHANCELLOR AND I HAVE ASKED OUR TEAMS TO LOOK AT PRACTICAL MEASURES WE COULD TAKE IT TOGETHER. AND WHETHER OR NOT EUROPE ENERGY SECURITY AND UKRAINE SECURITY WAS BASED ON RUSSIAN ACTIONS SO WE WILL SEE.
WE WILL SEE. MS. LEONARD OF BLOOMBERG. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND SOME FOR THE CHANCELLOR AS WELL.
YOUR ADMINISTRATION TOMORROW IS ISSUING A BUSINESS ADVISORY FOR HONG KONG. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THAT IS NECESSARY, AND SECONDLY, ON YOUR BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE SENATORS ABOUT THE $3.45 TRILLION FRAMEWORK, AND ARE YOU CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE ON BOARD AT THAT LEVEL AND IF THEY DEMAND THAT YOU LOSE SOME COMPONENTS, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO KEEP PROGRESSIVES ON BOARD? >> I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHETHER YOU HAVE A FEELING THAT AFTER THE TALK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN HE BETTER UNDERSTANDS YOUR VIEWPOINT AS REGARDS CHINA OR WHETHER THE SITUATION IS STILL TENSE AND WHETHER THERE IS STILL DECOUPLING, AND SECONDLY, WHETHER YOU THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS CONTRIBUTED ENOUGH TO VACCINATE THE REST OF THE WORLD, OR DO YOU THINK IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BEING VACCINATED OR CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 12 WHILE ADULTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE NO CHANCE TO GET VACCINATED? >> THAT IS ALL.
I THOUGHT I SAID WE WOULD TAKE TWO QUESTIONS. LET ME TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS ADVISORY. THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS DETERIORATED. AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS NOT KEEPING ITS COMMITMENT AND HOWEVER IT DEALT WITH HONG KONG. SO IT IS MORE OF AN ADVISORY AS TO WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN HONG KONG AND IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT AND AS COMPLICATED AS THAT.
WITH REGARD TO AM I CONFIDENT? I AM SUPREMELY CONFIDENT THAT EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT PERFECT WE. LOOK, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE PRESS, AMONG OTHERS IS SKEPTICAL THAT I CAN ACTUALLY GET THIS DEAL DONE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE. I HAVE WATCHED AND LISTENED TO THE PRESS TALK ABOUT THIS THAT 10 TIMES BEFORE. I THINK IT IS STILL ALIVE AND IT'S NOT DEAD AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL GET WHAT WE PROPOSE AND WHAT I HAVE AGREED TO IN A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE EACH COMMITTED AND I TRUST THE MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENTS RELATIVE TO HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH THIS AND WHAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEY ARE MEN AND WOMEN OF HONOR, AND I EXPECT THEM TO KEEP THEIR COMMITMENT. WITH REGARD TO THE FURTHER ISSUE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT WILL CONFUSE THE LISTENING AUDIENCE, RECONCILIATION IS THE MECHANISM BY WHICH WE HAVE TO GET EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT TO AGREE TO PROCEED ON MATTERS LIKE WHAT I ANNOUNCED TODAY AND TODAY I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN AND IT IS NOT OF MY BUSINESS BUT IF YOU DO IF YOU ARE MAKING LESS THAN $150,000, YOU WILL GET A SIGNIFICANT STIPEND AS A TAX CUT AND IF YOU HAVE A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN YEARS OLD AND YOU WILL GET IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TODAY, YOU WILL GET A PAYMENTS OF 12 MONTHS DIVIDED BY $3600 -- 3600C712 EVERY MONTH, JUST LIKE A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK AND IT IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY BY OVER 40%. AND IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT GAME CHANGER. WE HAVE MECHANISMS TO PAY FOR BOTH OF THESE MECHANISMS. AND THERE MAY BE SOME LAST- MINUTE DISCUSSION AS TO WHO OR WHAT MECHANISM IS USED TO PAY FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS, BOTH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AND THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE WILL GET IT DONE.
THANK YOU. >> WE TALKED ABOUT CHINA, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMMON UNDERSTANDING THAT CHINA IN MANY AREAS IS OUR COMPETITOR AND THE TRADE WITH CHINA NEEDS TO REST ON THE ASSUMPTION WE HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD SO WE ALL PLAY BY THE SAME RULES AND HAVE THE SAME STANDARDS IN THAT INCIDENT THE WAS ALSO THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE EU CHINA AGREEMENT ON TRADE THAT THEY ABIDE BY THE COURT LABOR LAWS OF ILO AND WE ARE CONVINCED OF HOURS NEEDING TO BE TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERS FOR OUR COUNTRIES, BOTH COUNTRIES, IN MANY MANY AREAS AND OBVIOUSLY CHINA IS WISHING TO DO THIS AS WELL BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD COOPERATE IN MANY TECHNOLOGICAL STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES AND FOR EXAMPLE, CHIPS, I THINK THE ACT THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHED IS FUNDAMENTAL IN THIS RESPECT AND CRUCIAL. WE WANT TO TRADE TOGETHER AT A TIME OF DIGITALIZATION WHERE SECURITY ISSUES LOOM VERY LARGE AND OUR AGENDA AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE AN EXCHANGE ON THIS AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND WE OUGHT TO TALK ABOUT NORMS AND STANDARDS THAT GOVERN THE INTERNET. WHETHER WE CAN AGREE ON COMMON NORMS AND REGARDING RELATIONSHIPS OF US WITH CHINA, WE OUGHT TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS AND WE DO THAT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND WE SHOULD DO IT WITH UNITED STATES AND THEIR INTERESTS OBVIOUS BUT SOMETIMES COMMON INTERESTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AREAS WHERE COMPANIES COMPETE WITH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND WE ACCEPT THAT, BUT I THINK, BASICALLY, THE RULES AS TO HOW WE DEAL WITH CHINA OUGHT TO REST AND DO REST ON OUR SHARED VALUES. AND I THINK ON THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY OF THE PANDEMIC OPINION THAT WE CAN ONLY DO THIS IF EACH AND EVERYONE IS VACCINATED AND WE ARE TRYING TO BOOST PRODUCTION AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE AND OBVIOUSLY IT OPENS OURSELVES UP FOR CRITICISM OF THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAS NOT YET HAVE THE CHANCE WHICH IS WHY WE INVESTED IN COVAX AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR COMPANIES TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION OF VACCINES , AND IN AFRICA WE ARE TRYING TO HELP AFRICANS TO UP SKILL PEOPLE SO THEY CAN ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN PRODUCTION SITES AND WE WILL DO THIS, BUT THERE IS AN IMBALANCE, I AGREE. BUT WE ARE PUTTING OUR ALL INTO THAT AND ALSO TOGETHER IN OVERCOMING THAT IMBALANCE.
I AM SORRY. I: -- I CALL ON THIS FOR THE NEWSPAPER. >> MY FIRST QUESTION TOUCHES AN ISSUE THAT WORRIES A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. IN GERMANY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY THERE STILL IS A TRAVEL BAN FOR PEOPLE COMING FROM GERMANY OR OTHER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WELL PEOPLE FROM TURKEY WHERE THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES ARE SEVEN TIMES AS HIGH CAN COME? YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING SCIENTIFIC DATA AND WHAT IS THE MAIN ARGUMENT FOR NOT LIFTING THAT TRAVEL BAN FOR THIS REGION, AND, CHANCELLOR MERKEL, YOU TALKED TO THE BUSINESS COMPANIES HERE AND YOU HEARD THEIR CONCERNS AND YOU HEARD THEIR HEADACHES AND SOME HAVE THREATENED THEY WILL SHIFT BUSINESS AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN ARGUMENT TO WORK FOR LIFTING OF THE TRAVEL BAN, AND HAVE YOU HAD SUCCESS? >> WE BROUGHT IN THE HEAD OF OUR COVID TEAM BECAUSE THE CHANCELLOR BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP.
IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING HOW SOON WE CAN LIFT THE BAN. IT IS IN PROCESS NOW AND I WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM OUR FOLK AND OUR TEAM AS TO WHEN THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
>> DID RAISE THE ISSUE, YES. GOT THE SAME ANSWER THE PRESIDENT GAVE YOU JUST NOW AND THE COVID TEAM IS EVALUATING THE MATTER. WE HAD AN EXCHANGE IN BOTH AREAS WITH THE DELTA VARIANT ACTUALLY BEING ON THE INCREASE AND THAT IS AGAIN A NEW CHALLENGE TO BOTH OF US, AND BEFORE SUCH A DECISION, ONE HAS TO REFLECT AND IT HAS TO BE A SUSTAINABLE DECISION, AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SENSIBLE TO HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS, SO I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE COVID TEAM. >> HAVING BEEN HERE MANY TIMES, IF WE DON'T LEAVE RIGHT NOW, WE WILL MISS DINNER. WE HAVE A DINNER WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS VERY SHORTLY, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
2021-07-19