President Bush criticizes Russia and China on democracy at Prague conference

US President George W. Bush criticized Russia and China on democracy at an international conference in Prague on Tuesday. Speaking to democracy and human rights activists at the conference named "Democracy and Security: Core Values and Sound Policies, he said that the "reforms in Russia that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed with troubling implications for democratic development". In China, the US President said, "leaders believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without also opening its political system".

US President George W. Bush arrived in Prague for a one-day visit on Monday evening. He left for Germany on Tuesday evening, where he is scheduled to attend is the G8 summit and meet his Russian counterpart on Thursday.