LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - A speech by U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday could signal a shift in U.S. climate policy, White House officials told the U.N. climate change chief Yvo de Boer.

"White House staff said that this could result in a policy shift," de Boer told Reuters.

"I asked White House representatives does this mean you're in favour of launching negotiations in Bali (this December) and they said in a way discussions had already started."

But de Boer's support for climate talks hosted by the U.S. depended on these remaining within the U.N. multilateral process, he said.

"I think it's incredibly valuable provided they feed into the (U.N. climate change) convention."

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