In the last two or three years, there have been positive social changes in the culture industry. Viet Nam has taken advantage of the UN cultural agency UNESCO’s convention on the protection and promotion of diversity 2005 to promote the culture industry in the country. [...] I believe when people understand that cultural potential is itself a major sector of the economy, the culture industry will become a soft power of Viet Nam in the world.

Tags: vietnam, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, art & culture, culture industry, unesco, government pd, art diplomacy

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to support Myanmar’s peace process Friday as he met with the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in Beijing ahead of historic talks with armed groups near the countries’ troubled border.

Tags: xi jinxing, aung san suu kyi, myanmar, china, peace talks, government pd, ethnic conflict, beijing

Located in Guatemala’s Western Highlands, Lake Atitlan is a tourist-friendly area rich in Mayan culture. [...] Panajachel, known as Pana, is home to several restaurants featuring local and international cuisine, coffee shops, street food vendors and more. 

Tags: maya, mayan culture, Cultural Diplomacy, guatemala, indigenous group, tourism, cultural exchange, lake atitlan

Uganda is one of the most favourable environments in the world for refugees, according to the UNHCR. While many countries keep refugees in camps away from citizens, Uganda allows them to set up businesses, work for others, and move freely around the country.

Tags: uganda, global aid & development, refugee crisis, education, unhcr, help refugees, refugee act

Together O’Neal and Canales became the first official U.S. Department of State Basketball Sports Envoys to Cuba, taking U.S. diplomacy to new heights by forging positive ties with the people of Cuba through the unifying power of sports.  

Tags: cuba, havana, united states, us-cuba relations, people-to-people diplomacy, sports envoys, sports diplomacy, shaquille o'neal, human rights, democracy

Expanding its digital presence, the External Affairs Ministry launched an app, bringing websites and various social media handles of over 170 Indian missions on a common platform to further its public outreach. The app, developed in cooperation with social media giant Facebook, will help people connect with Indian missions abroad...

Tags: india, social media, Digital Diplomacy & New Technology, MEAIndia, apps, facebook, twitter

Sport, as the virtuous expression of human self-improvement, honors standing in direct contact with another in the context of values ​​and respect, to seek becoming a better person. Humanitarianism and Olympism share the universal ideals of respect and dignity. Their opposites, terrorism, prejudice and violence are today our main challenges. Perhaps we should see in Olympism and the principles of humanitarianism a tool for reconciliation between peoples and a solution to these conflicts.

Tags: World Humanitarian Day, humanitarianism, olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics, sports diplomacy, global aid & development, refugee crisis, refugee olympic team

The purpose of CultureGround, which was established in March 2012, is vague. CultureGround plans festivals, travel routes and even international exchange events and volunteer programs. Kim describes his company as creating diverse travel programs with the keywords “Learn, Enjoy, Share.” 

Tags: south korea, korean culture, Cultural Diplomacy, international exchange, cultural exchange, volunteer, tourism, exhibition