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We value our friendship with Singapore: Laura Bush
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 16 November 2006 1644 hrs
SINGAPORE: While President Bush was meeting Singapore's leaders, his wife was engaged in diplomacy of a softer kind. Some children at the National Library had a very special reading session. They were told the story of a lonely powerful spider by the First Lady of America. The children also got to ask Mrs Bush any question they wanted. The first question fired - Was she popular in America? "I what? Popular in America? Sure," she answered with a laugh. Mrs Bush also told the children about her hobbies and favourite animals, adding that her daughter's roommate in college was a Singaporean. Nur Alijah Ibrahim, 8 years old, said: "She has a garden with many roses, tons of roses, big white house." The first lady also browsed a special collection of books on Asia history from the 16th and 19th centuries. These books are usually kept in dehumidified rooms and were last taken out when the Emperor and Empress of Japan visited Singapore in June this year. During the visit, Mrs Bush said that they value their friendship with Singapore. "I want to tell you how important our relationship with Singapore is and how we value our friendship with the people of Singapore," she said. To welcome the First Lady, the library had specially set up a display featuring American writers. Mrs Bush said she wanted to visit the library because she used to be a librarian and reading is her favourite pastime. - CNA/so
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