BEIJING, CHINA - China's foreign ministry on Tuesday congratulated US President Barack Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

"We have taken note that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in promoting diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters. "We congratulate him."

The Nobel Prize Committee stunned many around the world on Friday when it awarded Obama this year's Peace Prize just nine months into his presidency.

The five-person Norwegian panel praised Obama's "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples", noting in particular his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.

A "surprised" and "deeply humbled" Obama said he doubted he deserved the honour, but vowed to wield it as a "call to action" to lead a united world against its greatest challenges.