Monday, November 21 2005 10:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: US President George W Bush has taken up a 'variety of concerns' with Chinese President Hu Jintao when the two leaders held discussions in Beijing, though the United States first citizen experienced 'amazing transformation' of the communist giant in the recent times.

"I talked about the Dalai Lama, I talked about the Catholic Church, we discussed a lot of areas of concern about the condition of the dissidents and people who want to express themselves," Bush told sources on his way Mongolia.

He said China has undergone 'amazing transformation' in its economy. "It's a much freer economy than any time in its past. And as a result, the people are becoming more prosperous. I've always believed that a free economy will yield a freer political system", Bush said.

On Dalai Lama, Bush said he thought it would be wise for the Chinese government to invite the Dalai Lama "so he can tell them exactly what he told me in the White House the other day, that he has no desire for an independent Tibet".

"I talked about the Catholic Church, the need for this government to invite leaders from the Vatican to come and discuss religious freedom in China," Bush, who started his China visit by attending services in a Beijiog church, said.

Bush did not elaborate on the nature of talks he had with the Chinese leaders on reforms in currency and intellectual property rights. Market access was yet another subject he took up with China, Bush said.

Bush said he disagreed with Democrat lawmaker John Murtha's call for an orderly return from Iraq. "An immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq will only strengthen the terrorists' hand in Iraq and in the broader war on terror," Bush said.