WASHINGTON: The U.S. President George W Bush has asked his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to talk to the Dalai Lama the Tibet issue but the latter said they would do so only if the Tibetan spiritual leader "truly" abandoned his quest for 'Tibet independence.'

"President Bush telephoned President Hu Jintao of China Thursday.

As per the information the President raised his concerns about the situation in Tibet and encouraged the Chinese government to engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives and to allow access for journalists and diplomats.

National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said: "The President pushed very hard on the need to -- concern about violence in Tibet, the need for restraint, the need to dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama. As you know, there have been consultations between Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama in the past,"

" The President urged that those have been suspended should be restored as part of a process for Chinese authorities to addressing, reaching out to and addressing the grievance of the people in Tibet" Hadley said.

Hu told Bush that the Dalai Lama should especially stop activities to "fan and mastermind" violent crimes in Tibet as well as in some regions and to sabotage the Beijing Olympics in August.