Distinguished news man. He was kind of embarrassed by this. He was moderating but he disappears for sometimes five or more minutes at a time. Today, you would not have a moderator jumping in every 30 seconds. Sunday night at 8 00 eastern and pacific on cspans q a. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari met with president obama to talk about the boko haram and violence in nigeria. Later, president buhari spoke in an event hosted by the u. S. Chamber of commerce. [applause] Muhammadu Buhari please sit down, ladies and gentlemen. When we read our speeches in the other room, the audience was so small. In fact, i wondered why some of the governors turned down our invitation only for me to find in here. I, too will reread my speech. [laughter and applause] the governors here. The governor of river state, b orno state, the central ground of boko haram. The governor of ibo state. The governors of other states, and the rest of my team. Ambassador adefuye. And corporate sponsors and captains of industry are present. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I was not surprised to meet a close friend of mine. I am referring to the chief executive. I was not surprised to meet him. I was surprised to meet the chief executive of a bank. Maybe he was brought by the governor of the central bank. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by saying how pleased i am to be here tonight and to be treated to this elaborate dinner by the Corporate Council on africa. To have so many entrepreneurs and captains of industry here tonight speak well between of the relationship between nigeria and the United States. I would like to commend the chamber for assembling leading United States companies. Whose top executives executives have taken me through their vision and activities in nigeria. My intention here tonight is to simply to bring a message of hope about my countrys future and opportunities available for the United States investors. Ladies and gentlemen, due to the excellent relations between nigeria and the United States, our two countries found it necessary to sign a binational agreement in 2010 as a framework to guide our interactions. The agreement provides a template to effectively and efficiently manage the growing political, diplomatic, social, economic and security corporations between nigeria and the United States. Cooperations between nigeria and the United States. The need to strengthen our bilateral relations, business, investment and organize power agriculture and infrastructure. These interactions have led to increasing economic and investment activities between nigeria and the United States. I would like to see these interactions brought in. A huge potential is there in our two countries to improve economic and trade relations beyond the current level. It is my intention to create the necessary environment for future investment in nigeria. We are the most populous nation and largest market in africa with a vast human and natural resources. And an abundant young skilled , workforce. Where therefore a prime candidate to become the destination of choice for the United States investment in africa. [applause] president buhari dasani investors know from experience that nigerian market provides a better return than any in africa. I would work to welcome new investors to our country. The challenges that i lay on the table tonight is for the Business Community of the United States and nigeria to take advantage of the excellent political relations between our 2 countries to expand activities including joint Venture Projects in priority sectors of the nigerian economy, including power generation, gas, agriculture, mining, health sector, tourism, and other sectors of our economy to take advantage of the United StatesAfrica Growth and opportunity act. Ladies and gentlemen, while i recognize the role of governments in facilitating and promoting Economic Growth, the private sector must assume an increasing role as part of an engine of growth. This is even more so for us in nigeria as we take steps in diversifying to a nonoil driven economy. In particular, we will welcome investors who are willing to come to nigeria for minerals exploration. Generating employment was one of my key campaign promises. I will do my best to keep this promise. I will do my best to keep this promise. [applause] president buhari is there is no other way to explain Economic Opportunities and create employment for millions then boost domestic manufacturing and undertaking infrastructure and industrialization. Nigeria will partner with the general investors or willing to join us to achieve our economic objectives and at the same time, to reap handsome returns for their investment. There is more to nigeria than oil. This is why i will continue to stress of the need for increased United States investment in our nonoil sectors. In this respect, the present administration will be attentive to the needs of the Business Community. And provide policies that will strengthen the sector to drive the growth. [applause] president buhari we intend to reduce waste and focus on freedom, accountability and good governance. Respect for the rule of law strict compliance with and levels of agreement and ease of doing business and removal of bottlenecks are some of the measures that the federal government will promote. Ladies and gentlemen, nigeria has Enormous Economic potentials that require heavy funding which cannot be sourced locally in nigeria alone. In this regard, i want to use this platform to encourage United States, Foreign Investors and funding agencies such as overseas Investment Corporation and United StatesExportimport Bank to include access to capital and funding of such businesses. Unfavorable on favorable returns. As you are aware, stable power reduces the cost of doing business. Nigeria therefore requires investment of the United StatesEnergy Companies to improve our power supply. While im aware of some of the challenges confronting the Energy Sector in nigeria i want , to ensure you that the government of nigeria is set to tackle the challenges as it relates to gas shortage and power line utilization, which are new into in recent times affected the transmission and distribution of power to the consumer. Ladies and gentlemen, the kind of environment i envisage can only thrive in a secure and stable environment. As sense as such, i have given full attention to the fight against the boko haram insurgency in collaboration with nigerias immediate neighbors. To this end, nigeria has placed 100 million United States to the dollars Multinational Task force of the lakeside recent commission to provide resources for the tax force to effectively function. Last month, nigeria released a sum of 21 million United States dollars of this pledge and stands ready to liquidate its pledge when the task force fully becomes operational. Nigeria recognizes and thinks the United States so much for their contribution of 5 million to this campaign. Every little bit helps and this allimportant fight against terrorism. This is aimed at the insurance of protection and federalization of every inch of nigerias territory. By the resettlement of displaced persons and providing the atmosphere for resumption of normal life. In conclusion, i would like to remind you all that we are continuing with major privatization programs and sectors ranging from telecommunications energy, gas aviation, health, and Infrastructure Development which will improve rural agriculture. We will also simplify visa procedures on principles of reciprocity. And i, therefore, see this opportunity to formally invite the american Business Community to take advantage of our liberal trade and Investment Climate to do fruitful business and nigeria. I thank you very much for your attention. [applause] on our next washington journal, an update on the white house and congressional agendak. Kristina peterson and jeff mason. Then we talked to Mark Hugo Lopez about childhood poverty rates. Washington journal is live at 7 00 eastern. We take your phone calls and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. Cspan gives you the best access to congress. Live coverage of the u. S. House, congressional hearings and News Conferences. Bring your events that shape public policy. Every morning, washington journal is live with elected officials, policymakers and journalists and your comments by phone, facebook and twitter. Cspan created by Cable Companies and brought to you as a Public Service by your local cable or satellite provider. Following the ceremonial raising of the flag at the Cuban Embassy in washington, secretary of state john kerry and his cuban counterpart held a joint News Conference to discuss u. S. Cuba relations. Secretary kerry will travel to cuba august 14 to attend a ceremony to raise the American Flag over the u. S. And is a. He will be the first u. S. Secretary of state to visit the island since 1945. Mr. Kerry good afternoon everybody. I am pleased to welcome to the state department, my colleague bruno rodriguez, the foreign minister of cuba. I apologize for our being a little late, but we were downstairs. We had a lot to talk about, not just u. S. Cuba relations, and i think we had a very constructive conversation. This is the first visit to the department of state by a Cuban Foreign minister since 1958. Today marks as well the resumption of normal diplomatic ties between our countries and the reopening of our embassies after a rupture that has lasted 54 years. So it is an historic day, a day for removing barriers. [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] of course, this milestone does not signify an end to differences that still separate our governments. It does reflect the reality that the cold war ended long ago and that the interests of both countries are better served by engagement than by estrangement and that we have begun a process of full normalization that is sure to take time but will also benefit the people in both cuba and the United States. This shared resolve to look ahead is what drove our conversation today and what has brought us to this moment. The foreign minister and i touched on a wide range of issues of mutual concern including cooperation on law enforcement, counter narcotics, telecommunications, the internet, Environmental Issues human rights, and we also discussed the openings of our embassies. We want to make sure those embassies are able to function fully and im confident diplomats from both countries will have the freedom to travel and to converse with citizens from all walks of life. To help lead that effort i am , encouraged we have a first rate embassy team in cuba led by jeff delaurentis, one of our finest and most experienced public servants. I look forward to making a trip to cuba and holding a comparable ceremony in havana. Before closing, i want to thank our colleagues from switzerland for the vital role they have played as the protecting power for what has obviously proven to be a much longer time than originally anticipated. I thank our friends around the hemisphere who have urged us, in some cases for decades, to restore our diplomatic ties and have warmly welcomed our decision to do so. And i am grateful for the outstanding leadership of Roberta Jacobson and the efforts of the many u. S. And cuban representatives whose hard work made this day possible. I want to knowledge the commitment of all the care about u. S. Cuba relations whether they disagree whether they agree with the decision to normalize or not, change is rarely easy, especially when earlier positions have been so deeply ingrained and so profoundly felt. Although we can and must learn from the past, nothing is more futile than trying to live in the past. President obama believes and so do i that our citizens benefit far more from policies that aim to shape a Better Future. There is, after all, nothing to be lost and much to be gained by encouraging travel between our nations, the free flow of information and ideas, the resumption of commerce, and the removal of obstacles that have made it harder for families to visit their loved ones. Make no mistake, the process of fully normalizing relations between the United States and cuba will go on. It may be long and complex. But, along the way, we are sure to encounter a bump here and there, and moments even of frustration. Patience will be required. But that is all the more reason to get started now on this journey, this long, overdue journey. Today, with the opening of our embassies and a visit of the foreign minister, we are taking a historic and longoverdue overdue step in the right direction. To keep moving forward, both governments must proceed in a spirit of openness and Mutual Respect. I can assure the world including people of cuba, that the United States will do its part. [speaking spanish] including the cuban people, the United States will do its part. And now it is my pleasure to yield the floor to our guest foreign minister bruno rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez good afternoon. Sorry for being late. We just had a respectful meeting with secretary john kerry, with the secretary of state, we had an exchange on the issues discussed between president raul castro and barack obama during their historic encounter at the summit of the americas in panama. The current status of the bilateral relations and the progress achieved since the announcement of december 17, 2014, including cubas removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the expansion of official exchanges on issues of common interests and the establishment of diplomatic relations and reopening of embassies. I conveyed the recognition of our people and government to president obama for his determination to work for the lifting of the blockade and for urging congress to eliminate and his willingness to adopt executive measures that modify the implementation of some aspects of these policies. Their scope is Still Limited , but these are steps taken in the right direction. Likewise we have emphasized in , the meantime that the president of the United States can continue using his executive powers to pay a significant contribution to the dismantling of the blockade. Not to pursue changes in cuba something that falls under our exclusive sovereignty and but to attend to the interest of u. S. Citizens. I emphasized that the total lifting of the blockade, the return of the legally occupied territory of guantanamo and the full respect of cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages are crucial to be able to move forward in the normalization of relations. We both ratified our interest in normalizing bilateral relations knowing that this would be a long and complex process which will require the willingness of both countries. There are profound differences between cuba and the United States with regard to our views about the exercise of human rights by all persons all over the world and also issues related to International Law which will inevitably persist. But we strongly believe we can both cooperate and coexist in a civilized way based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue oriented to a wellbeing of our countries and peoples and this continent and the entire world. I expressed to the secretary of state that he will be welcomed in cuba on the occasion of the ceremony to reopen the u. S. Embassy in havana. So, mr. Secretary, i will be waiting for you. [speaking spanish] translator we have just had a constructive and respectful meeting with secretary john kerry. It was particularly significant to see that the cuban flag was raised for the first time in 54 years. We would not have been able to make it through these date without the historical leadership of the revolution headed by fidel castro and without the resistance and selfdetermination of the cuban people and the Firm Determination to continue walking down the path that was sovereignly chosen. Weve been able to make it with the support received from latin america, the caribbean, the overwhelming majority of countries around the world, u. S. And cuban patriotic citizens to reside in this country and who persevered for so many years in their efforts so that cuba and the United States could have better relations. With the secretary of state, we have an exchange of issues discussed by president raul castro and president barack obama during their historical time at the summit of the americas in panama. They progress since december 17 include cubas removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism a