Bush: China's pre-Olympic crackdown "a mistake"
Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008 08:58
US president George Bush criticises China's pre-Olympic crackdown
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US president George Bush has described China's pre-Olympic crackdown on protestors as "a mistake".
Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Mr Bush also called for China to allow greater freedom of expression for its people.
Mr Bush met with South Korea's president Lee Myung-Bak to discuss controversial plans to resume US beef imports and ways of strengthening their country's military alliance.
The beef deal is hugely controversial in South Korea and the decision to resume imports after a five-year suspension has caused a huge political backlash.
Thousands of protestors greeted Mr Bush's arrival in Seoul, but the US president appeared to welcome the demonstration, saying: "I enjoy coming to a free society where people are able to express their opinions."
Speaking of China, he told reporters: "I have been meeting Chinese leaders for seven and a half years, and my message has been the same: you should not fear religious people in your society.
"As a matter of fact, religious people will make your society a better place. You ought to welcome people being able to express their minds."
Human rights activists have repeatedly called for Mr Bush to boycott the upcoming Olympic Games at Beijing but he has said that he will not "politicise" the games.
"This is an athletics event. But it's also an opportunity to say to the Chinese people, we respect your traditions, we respect your history," Mr Bush said.
"The reason I'm going to the Olympics is twofold - one, to show my respect for the people of China, and two, to cheer on the US team."