East Asia playing bigger role in global economy, Bush says

Long Yongtu (L), Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), welcomes former U.S. President George W. Bush at a dinner session in Boao, a scenic town in south China’ s Hainan Province, April 18, 2009. Bush gave a keynote  speech on the dinner session titled "The U.S., Asia and the Future" here on Saturday.(Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

"We learn lessons from the past that we are intervened in close coordination with each other," he said.

As the 43rd U.S. president, Bush spoke out the fact that he had maintained good personal relations with China. He said making friends with Chinese leaders made it easier to do diplomacy.  

He said changes in China are marvelous, and to have discussions without China sitting at the table makes no sense.

He stressed the world must resist isolation and protectionism, and must resist the temptation to over-correct.

"More we interact, more quickly we can succeed," he said.

In mid-March, Bush gave his first speech after leaving office in Calgary of Canada, which stirred up a protest of 200 people and shoe throwing outside the event, according to media reports.