China feels "awkward" about the 2008 Mumbai terror attack carried out by Pakistani militants and wants to address India's concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan in a more "constructive way", a Chinese official said in a rare criticism of the all-weather ally.

"China also feels quite awkward. It does not mean China is sympathising with terrorist attacks. It is awkward diplomatically. It needs to handle this ticklish issue in a more diplomatic way," Hu Shisheng, Director of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a Chinese foreign ministry strategic think-tank told Indian media.

He was responding to questions on China's double standards over Pakistani involvement in terrorism, especially regarding the recent release of the Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, a prime accused in the case.

"Chinese diplomats are getting more mature. The challenge is non interference," he said, adding that a way out has to be found. "India's concerns over terrorism will be addressed in a more constructive way," Hu said, adding China, too, suffered a lot due to terrorism, referring to militancy in Xinjiang which borders Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).