In a new paper, East Asia Program Director Linda Jakobson argues that the weak relationship between Canberra and Beijing is hurting Australia's ability to exert influence in the region.

"A lot of people are really excited that we are opening the Arabic Film Festival with a Palestinian film," said Fadia Abboud, a community worker at the Parramatta-based Information and Cultural Exchange, which has organised the festival.

Public diplomacy differs because but it has a broader reach, it goes beyond the influential few to the masses, to those indifferent, ignorant or not seeking to know. It seeks out a new audience and encourages communities to adopt a positive and open outlook towards Australia.

The decline of Australian public diplomacy capabilities is at a critical point. At its lowest point in years, some have been looking at alternative ways for Australia to engage internationally. The Lowy Institute for International Policy, in particular, has long been lamenting that DFAT does not use digital tools or social media to help promote Australia's foreign policy interests.

Hu's next trip to Australia - now as leader - was in October 2003. The Chinese had suggested the visit, with Hu flying on directly after the APEC leaders' summit in Bangkok. The Howard government was pleased and arranged for Hu to visit Canberra on the Thursday. But then US president George W. Bush said that he, too, would like to visit Australia after APEC, nominating the Thursday as his preferred time.

This follows the opening in 2011 of our Embassy in Addis Ababa, home of the African Union. Expanding our diplomatic footprint sends a clear signal of the Government's commitment to building a long-term partnership with the countries of Africa. Australia is also seeking membership of the African Development Bank. And our Prime Minister Julia Gillard hopes to attend the African Union Summit in Malawi this year, the first ever Australian Prime Minister to do so.

The emerging ‘Beijing consensus’ – comprising soft power diplomacy and market power, combined with the concept of China’s “peaceful rise” – has influenced Australia’s political and business decision makers that a ‘tilt’ towards Beijing is in the national interest.

Australia’s federal and state governments, and its universities, have the most crucial role to play in ensuring that the nation’s engagement with India is genuine. I am not discounting the importance of the economic/trade motivation that underlies a large portion of our current efforts, but this needs to be accompanied by cultural openness.