A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
Public diplomacy and Rotary
Many people think that international diplomacy is only conducted by national leaders at conferences and embassies. In fact diplomacy is conducted every day by average citizens. The United States Department of State is aware of the importance of citizen-level cross-cultural exchange as a means of increasing international harmony. The State Department refers to this citizen to citizen exchange as public diplomacy. The Rotary Club of Ellensburg, a chapter of Rotary International, is very involved in a particular form of public diplomacy: international student exchange programs.
History's Shadow Eclipses Korea-Japan Trust-Building
Since normalising their diplomatic ties half a century ago, South Korea and Japan have made substantial progress in the economic, social and cultural domains, with trade volume nearly 400 times what it was.
Planning for the Obama-Xi Summit
On January 28, 1979, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, then China’s vice premier, started his nine-day official visit to the United States, the first such visit by a top Chinese leader since the founding of the People’s Republic. There are many memorable moments from his tour, but the most iconic is undoubtedly when he put on a ten-gallon cowboy hat and waved to the audience in a Texas rodeo. That moment humanized Chinese leaders, who had been demonized by American leaders and mass media for nearly two decades.
Liu Challenges University Leaders
China's Vice-Premier Liu Yandong on Monday challenged university presidents from both China and the United States to deepen and broaden cooperation in higher education. The presidents and chancellors of more than 50 major US and Chinese universities met at Rice University in Houston for the US-China University Presidents Roundtable. They discussed global education, research collaboration and cultural exchange.
Chinese Takeaway: Yoga Diplomacy
The impressive participation around the world on International Yoga Day is indeed a testimony to India’s immense reservoir of soft power. In his energetic engagement with world leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put a special emphasis on cultural diplomacy. Modi should, however, remember that India’s soft power has the greatest impact when official New Delhi keeps its heavy hand away from it. India is not new to cultural diplomacy. India’s self-discovery of its rich cultural heritage and its global reach played an important role in shaping its modern nationalism.
NFL Hall of Famers Arrive in Israel on Solidarity Blitz with Jewish State
New England Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft is in Israel this week along with 19 NFL Hall of Fame football stars as part of a special solidarity mission with the Jewish state.
“Touchdown in Israel: Mission of Excellence” is being sponsored by the Jewish billionaire, the first trip of its kind specific to former Pro Football Hall of Famers, ESPN reported.
China Building Soft Power Through Foreign Aid
China is using its soft power in the form of foreign aid to change the world despite criticism from Western countries that its approach lacks transparency.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road) initiatives are the latest strategies in Beijing's foreign aid policy. Around 76 percent of the loans Beijing granted between January 2014 and March 2015 were to countries included in the trade and infrastructure projects aimed at linking China and Europe.
Israel Removes Satirical Clip on Press Coverage of Gaza War
The Foreign Ministry pulled an animated 50-second video clip it uploaded last week which ridiculed foreign correspondents for their coverage of last summer’s Israel-Hamas fighting. The video sparked complaints from the foreign press.
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