In collaboration with leading global organisations, the Abu Dhabi Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, ADMAF, enables the creation of cultural initiatives that bring countries together and enable societies to better understand each other. The latest cultural diplomacy endeavours by the Abu Dhabi Festival also seek to further strengthen Abu Dhabi's position on the global cultural map.

In what seems likely to be a concerted and protracted charm offensive, China has been inviting hundreds of Myanmar opinion-formers to “improve understanding” on their part of China’s intentions. China is telling Myanmar that it knows Myanmar has changed, and that China’s attitude has changed too.

The ruling by the tribunal in the Philippines vs. Chinaarbitration case is no doubt a major setback to Chinese diplomacy. No matter how people evaluate the quality and impartiality of the ruling, [...] it will not only damage China’s image and soft power, but will greatly inhibit China’s claims to territory and maritime rights in the South China Sea, and the consequences will be far reaching. 

South Korean media are already abuzz with "imminent" Chinese retaliation to the Park Geun-hye government's announcement to host the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system. Has China suddenly become a vengeful hegemon? Even until January this year, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se characterized Seoul-Beijing ties as the "best ever." 

Ministry of Culture (MoC) which is responsible for conducting Festivals of India (FoIs) abroad as part of focused strategy for strengthening international cultural relations and enhancing India's soft power has invited proposals for conducting festivals abroad.

The government has adopted "Creative Korea" as the new national slogan of Korea. The new slogan integrates values of Korea coming from traditional and contemporary culture and suggests a direction for the future, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Monday. The government will televise the promotional video through international media outlets such as CNN and BBC. 

The third Ghana Street Carnival started off here with much enthusiasm over the weekend, with various cultural and artistic groups on parade to showcase the various faces of Ghana's culture, creative arts and entertainment.

"China Kaleidoscope: Jinjiang City Week," was launched on Monday to boost and improve the image and reputation of the city, a country-level city of Quanzhou, in Fujian Province. Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jinjiang Committee's Director, Lin Huiling, said that the event was part of the international promotion of Jinjiang's image as well as a crucial step towards internationalisation.