Border dispute with China will be resolved amicably: Pranab

NEW DELHI: Downplaying the recent war of words with China, India today expressed confidence that the boundary dispute with it will be resolved amicably through dialogue.

These recriminations over the border are "not sudden", Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told PTI while pointing out that such issues have been cropping up earlier also as China has not accepted the McMohan Line since 1914.

Mukherjee, who held the External Affairs Ministry portfolio in the previous UPA government, disagreed when it was suggested that China had been "strident" recently while India's response was being perceived as soft.

"Whenever they make any comment, our response is measured and as it should be. Chinese comments on the Prime Minister's visit to Arunachal is not for the first time. And even after that comment was made, I visited Arunachal. After coming from there, I said that Arunachal is an integral part of India," he said.

On the prospect of resolving the boundary question with China, he said "I am quite confident that all border disputes will be resolved through discussions, amicably".

On Chinese objections to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh recently to address an election rally, the senior Congress leader said "Prime Minister is the leader of the ruling party, therefore it is quite appropriate that he will go and canvass for his party candidates (during elections)."