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Bush Reflects On Ties In Embassy Dedication

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The Associated Press

Published: August 8, 2008

BEIJING - President Bush dedicated the massive new $434 million U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Thursday, saying it is a symbol of deepening ties between the two trading partners and sometimes political rivals.

Bush, in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and cheer on U.S. athletes, said the eight-story structure represented the "solid foundation underpinning" relations between the two countries and a commitment to strengthen that foundation for years to come.

"To me it speaks of the importance of our relations with China," Bush said.

China unveiled its own imposing new embassy in Washington last week. The 250,000-square-foot glass and limestone compound is the largest foreign embassy in the U.S. capital. The new American Embassy in Beijing is the county's second largest in the world, after the heavily fortified Baghdad compound.

The president attended the dedication of the embassy with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, who once served as U.S. ambassador to China.

Bush's rebuke of how China stifles free speech and religion in a speech - delivered earlier Thursday - drew a strong response from the Chinese.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang admonished Bush, saying "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues."

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