Bob Dylan says he not only wants to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in December, but he also hopes to return to China.

In an interview with Edna Gunderson for British newspaper The Telegraph, posted on Saturday, the US singer-songwriter was quoted as saying he "absolutely" wants to attend the ceremony, "if it's at all possible".

The Swedish Academy's permanent secretary, Sara Danius, said Dylan called her on Tuesday and said "of course" he would accept. They talked for about 15 minutes and Dylan said the news about the Nobel Prize left him speechless, according to a statement posted on the academy's website.