At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), H.E. Dr. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, visited Beijing from November 1 to 3, 2012. During his stay in Beijing, Kalam delivered a special speech on the Beijing Forum 2012 and had meetings with H.E. Ms. Yan Junqi, Vice-chairwoman of 11^thNPC Standing Committee and Mr. Zhu Shanlu, the Chair of the Peking University Council. Amb. LuShumin, Vice President of CPIFA held a welcome banquet for Kalam and his delegation. Kalam also visited China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and had a roundtable meeting with the experts of CAST.

       Kalam emphasized that China and India, as two emerging powers with long history and large population, should enhance exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, technology and young people’s contacts to safeguard world peace and promote common development.