UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday praised China's "crucial" role in trying to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and called for all parties to redouble efforts to break the stalemate.

"As host of the six-party talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, China has played a crucial role on this pressing issue," Annan told students at Peking University.

China's ongoing leadership would be essential to ensure that multilateral diplomatic efforts result in a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula, he said.

"We cannot allow the current stalemate to continue. All parties will need to redouble their efforts," Annan added.

Annan addressed about 200 students and teachers of China's prestigious Peking University on Tuesday morning.

He spoke highly of China's role in international affairs including HIV/AIDS prevention and poverty reduction.

He encouraged the students to join in international efforts to protect the global environment and suggested that Chinese students enhance exchanges with young people from Japan and South Korea.

Also on Tuesday morning, Annan toured the National Stadium accompanied by Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

"I have no doubt that the 2008 Games will be one of the best Games and I hope I will be here," he said.

Before arriving in China, Annan visited South Korea and Japan. He left China on Tuesday afternoon for Vietnam, the next stop on his Asian tour.

(Xinhua News Agency and BOCOG May 24, 2006)