Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency , speaks at Beijing's Tsinghua University Tuesday Dec. 5, 2006. [Photo: tsinghua.edu.cn]

Head of the UN nuclear agency has said China plays a crucial role in Korean nuclear issue and sanctions alone will not resolve the standoff.

Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made this comment Tuesday at Beijing's Tsinghua University, where he delivered a speech titled ¡°Nuclear Power: Look to the Future¡±.

ElBaradei noted that global diplomacy was the most effective way to solve the stand-offs over the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.

"The case of North Korea, if anything, underscores the importance of such cases for the international community... to engage in an immediate and sustained dialogue to address the situation and its underlying causes," he said.

The IAEA chief added incentives must accompany sanctions to persuade North Korea and Iran not to develop nuclear program.

Before the speech, 64-year-old ElBaradei, who shares the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize with his agency, was awarded an honorary doctorate of the renowned Chinese university.

ElBaradei embarked on his four-day visit to China Monday at the invitation of the China Atomic Energy Authority.

He is expected to meet senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Editor: Donald