The ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced May 22 that it will stage a fashion show and culture exhibition in Taipei City to celebrate Africa Day. “The initiative is in line with President Ma Ying-jeou’s cultural diplomacy approach,” the MOFA said in a statement. “It is also an opportunity for the people of Taiwan to experience African traditions.”

It is also noteworthy that its diplomatic efforts in Somalia presented Turkey with an important opportunity to illustrate its soft power in Africa. It is certainly an indication of Turkey's foreign policy ambition to become a major economic and political player in Africa.

India has reached out to Africa with an initiative to foster a People-to-People (P2P) understanding with Africa. “With 70 per cent of the population in Africa and India below the age of 25, promoting engagement between youth in Africa and India is imperative to pave the way for a shared future," said Navdeep Suri, the Joint Secretary, Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, India.

As a Chinese person, I think the viewpoint is very interesting and needs some discussion. Obviously, the Chinese government is eager to change the image created by the coverage of the West media, and therefore spends a lot of effort on the construction of a positive image.

According to Ambassador Pinak Chakravarty , India is entering a new phase in her ties with Africa. From a shared history of struggle against colonial oppression and economic exploitation to achieve freedom, they are now poised to take a great leap in developing partnership. The new relationship is based on economic partnership in a globalized, deeply interconnected world.

By now, nearly everyone has heard of the BRICS. Less known are the CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa) and MIST (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey). These acronyms are the product of brilliant branding, but they tell us nothing about why these countries were chosen as the ones best built to last.

Angola has already become a representative brand in the various universal exhibitions held so far, which turns it into a country that is open to the world, the national commissioner to the Expo 2012 Yeosu, Albina Assis, considered this Sunday.

The Americans have 'Soft Power' in bucketloads and Coca Cola, for example, is a pre-eminent example of it. Its important that we bleep on the global radar because the world is as flat as it ever was and if you are not bleeping frankly you are not in the game.