New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday praised US President Barack Obama for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, saying he embodies a "new spirit of dialogue and engagement."

Ban said in a statement that he "wholeheartedly congratulates" Obama.

"We are entering an era of renewed multilateralism, a new era where the challenge facing humankind demand global common cause and uncommon effort," Ban said.

He said Obama has raised awareness of the world's biggest problems: climate change, nuclear disarmament and a wide range of security issues.

"His commitment to work through the United Nations gives the world's people fresh hope and fresh prospects," Ban said. (dpa)