Mr. Romano Prodi, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Italy, visited Beijing from 5 to 8 September 2011. Mr. Liu Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, met with Mr. Prodi. The two sides exchanged views on development strategy and challenges of Beijing during 12^th Five-Year Plan Period, Ambassador Yang Wenchang, President of CPIFA, also met with Mr. Prodi and discussed with him China-EU and China-Italian relations, world economic and financial situation, European sovereign debt crisis and the Middle East and North Africa.

       Mr. Prodi attended the openning ceremony of Beijing International Forum on People to People Friendship together with Mme. He Luli, Vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the 10^th National People's Congress. Mr. Prodi elaborated on the importance of international coopration in his address at the Forum.