On
his first-ever visit to China
at the invitation of the reputed Beijing Forum, a Chinese government backed
intellectual body; Kalam appeared happy to receive the offer to teach but said
it all depends on his schedule.
Asked
whether he would be visiting Beijing
often to teach, 82-year-old Kalam told PTI, "I am a teacher. I teach in US
and as a Professor wherever the knowledge takes me I go and share it. Particularly,
I like meeting young people and I would like to contribute to their knowledge."
The
invitation to teach at the Peking
University was extended
to Kalam by its Chairman Zhu Shanlu when he met the former Indian president
Thursday night.
He
was invited to teach once a year, the subject of his choice and stay as long as
he wants. The subject could be science and technology or humanities, Kalam's
secretary H Sheridon said, adding that the offer included setting up Laboratory
of Kalam's choice.
Kalam
began his career as an Aerospace engineer and later became India 's top
guided missile scientist heading the DRDO, which recently has come up with 5,000
km Agni V missile which brought a number of Chinese cities within its range.
Significantly,
China
has organsied a special visit for Kalam to Chinese academy of aerospace
technology Friday altering its earlier plans to take him on tour of its top
aeronautical plant which manufacture its fighter planes.
Kalam
himself said he is interested in teaching sustainable development and praised Peking University 's
recent move to open ethics department which he said is a "beautiful idea".
He
is scheduled to formally address students of Peking University
Saturday and interact with the Chinese and Indian professionals at the Indian
Embassy here.
Kalam
said being ancient civlisations and holding 37 per cent of the world population,
both India and China should
cooperate and jointly work for the prosperity of their people.
"There
is no doubt we need harmony between two civilisations. How to do it, so I have
come to the conclusion the two great civilisations should become model
civilisations by coming together," he said.
"The
two countries mean 37 per cent of the humanity. It has got a tremendous
potential if the two countries put together their joint vision. The joint
effort could be for a technology mission or societal development mission or
even multiple missions," he said.
"We
should be partners," he said referring to the annual Strategic Dialogue
between both the countries.
"So
there are tremendous opportunities to the two if they come around and work for
peace and prosperity," Kalam said.
Asked
about critics back home that are skeptical about China and the history of
hostilities between the two nations, who fought a war in 1962, Kalam said the
countries of European Union came together after over 100 years of wars.
"Those
who fought wars are now sitting together in EU Parliament," he said and
referred to US and Russia 's
decision
to
drastically reduce their missile stockpiles.
"History
is there. But the generation is changing. India
has over 50 per cent youth and China
over 40 per cent," he said, adding the two could match their respective
strengths.
During
the reception hosted by Beijing Forum on Thursday, Kalam said that this one
unique action will become a harbinger for evolving a great model of cooperation
in an integrated and unique way for the world of nations to assimilate to
arrive at world peace and prosperity for all. -- NNN-PTI
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