Wednesday, April 1, 2009
President Obama Faces Busy Schedule in London
President Barack Obama will have a busy day in London. He has already made a joint appearance with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
In that conference, the morning before the G-20 economic crisis summit, Obama urged world leaders to take action for the economy, saying, "We can only meet this challenge together."
"I came here to put forward ideas," Obama said, "but I also came here to listen, not to lecture. Having said that, we must not miss an opportunity to lead."
The president disputed criticism that the US was feuding with other nations about the need to pump more money into economic stimulus policies, saying any differences are vastly overstated.
"I am absolutely confident that this meeting will reflect enormous consensus about the need to work in concert to deal with these problems," Obama said.
Obama urged nations to spur growth and work together on regulation reform, and not to fall into the protectionism that helped fuel the Great Depression.
"That is a mistake we cannot afford to repeat," Obama said.
He assured reporters that he still believes in the country's economic system.
"I think that there is a vibrancy to our economic model, a durability to our political model, and a set of ideals that has sustained even through the most difficult times."
Brown emphasized unity as well, saying never before has the world come together in this way to deal with an economic crisis.
"We are within a few hours, I think," Brown optimistically added, "of agreeing a global plan for economic recovery and reform."
Obama will also squeeze in talks with Brown's main rival, David Cameron, the leader of Britain's conservative party. The president will also have face-to-face talks with the leaders of China and Russia. Officials in both of those countries have called for a global currency to end the dollar's dominance.
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