MUMBAI: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee's references to the Chinese invasion of Arunachal Pradesh in 1962 and its border dispute with India sparked a war of words with a top Chinese diplomat at a seminar here.

Mr. Mukherjee said there were certain issues on which India and China still had differences, such as Arunachal Pradesh.

"China has solved border disputes with 10 neighbours except India and Bhutan," he said in his speech at a seminar on the `Role of Private Sector in Defence Preparedness,' organised by the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) here.

"On Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, we have differences. However, the differences on Sikkim were resolved during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India in April last," he said.

Chinese Consul-General Song De Heng, who was present, objected to Mr. Mukherjee's statement calling China an "invader" in Arunachal Pradesh. He said the situation, circumstances and position were such that China could not be termed so.

"On the issue of border dispute, I fail to understand what you mean by saying that China resolved border dispute with its neighbours barring India and Bhutan. Both the nations have been discussing. Is China difficult to negotiate or India?" Mr. Heng asked.

Mr. Mukherjee said India greatly valued friendship with China, but added that 1962 was a factual position. — PTI

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