A senior diplomatic source here today said the Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned a senior Indian diplomat here this week and handed a protest note, raising serious concern over the `ridiculous and fragile' statements by Fernandes.

``The matter was taken up at a higher level and we tried to assuage the feelings of the Chinese side by restating India's commitment to have friendly ties with China,'' the Indian diplomatic source said.

``We clearly told them that the Government of India remains committed to the development of a friendly, cooperative, good-neighbourly and mutually beneficial relationship with China,'' the source said.

Meanwhile in a related development, the US Defence Secretary William S Cohen has invited George Fernandes to visit the US. In a letter to Fernandes, the US Defence Secretary stated the visit wouldhelp to explore the scope for enhancing New Delhi-Washington relations.