BEIJING, Nov 19: US President George Bush arrived in Beijing on Saturday for talks with Chinese leaders expected to touch on thorny issues, from human rights to economic and trade rows.

North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the value of China’s currency and the threat of bird flu were issues expected to come up when Mr Bush meets his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on Sunday, US officials said.

Mr Bush, who is on an Asia tour, flew to Beijing from South Korea, where he attended the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. He was due to fly to Mongolia on Monday.

The US president was expected to discuss with Mr Hu and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao prickly questions about democracy and political and religious freedoms in China, and Beijing’s growing role as a geopolitical player.

“The rise of China’s role in the world is one of the most important variables we all face,” Mike Green, Mr Bush’s special assistant for National Security Affairs, told reporters aboard Air Force One.

“The president is optimistic about US-China relations but believes that to make progress we have to expand the areas of cooperation, but also be very candid about the areas where we disagree,” he said according to a transcript.

Mr Green said President Bush would also discuss China’s position on a number of international issues — from the Iranian nuclear standoff with the West to human rights violations in military-ruled Myanmar.

“China is responsible as a stakeholder, as a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council, to make progress with us on issues with Syria, with Sudan, with Iran and so forth — with Burma (Myanmar), for example,” Mr Green said.

Mr Bush, a devout Christian, was due to start his visit on Sunday by attending a prayer service in Beijing.

“It’s Sunday, so the president will want to worship,” said Mr Green. “But it’s also important that the world see and that the Chinese people see that expression of faith is a good thing for a healthy and mature society.”—AFP