Bush asks China to continue to reach out to Dalai on Tibet

WASHINGTON/BEIJING, MAY 13 (PTI)

US President George W Bush today nudged China to continue "substantiative" dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives on the vexed Tibet issue.

Bush, who spoke to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao over phone, to convey his condolences to the victims of the deadly quake that killed over 12,000 people also raised Tibet issue and noted the recent meeting between the Dalai Lama's representative and Chinese officials.

The US president "encouraged the Chinese government to continue to reach out to the Dalai Lama's representatives and engage in substantiative dialogue so that longstanding issues with regard to Tibet may be resolved," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Responding to Bush's comments, Hu reiterated China 's position on Tibet saying that it was one of the country's internal affairs and "affects the feelings of the Chinese people".

"We hope the US side would tackle related issues with an objective and fair-minded attitude and in a cautious and proper way, and understand and support China 's justified stance," Hu was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The talks between the Dalai Lama's envoy and China held last week failed to achieve any breakthrough after Beijing demanded "credible moves" from the 72-year-old spiritual leader to stop violence as a precondition for the next round of parleys.

Beijing has also refused to set a date for the next round of talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys and said the meeting was only a "beginning".