Ambassador of China to Italy Li Ruiyu highlighted the most recent example of fruitful bilateral exchange, the Expo Milano 2015, which since its opening on May 1 has hosted a series of important Chinese events, from the China National Day to the Beijing Week, Shanghai Week and many other activities organized by different regions of China.

But with 998,000 overseas foreign workers in 2014, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China has slowly come to realize that operating globally means indeed greater risk and the requirement therein to protect both its foreign nationals and overseas investments. To this end, China has increasingly felt the pressure of being in the middle of potentially hostile territory throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Young Chinese chefs will be learning Italian traditions and recipes from Italian Gambero Rosso culinary experts. Culture and food diplomacy will be showcased at Expo Milano 2015 after five agreements signed by the two countries for culture and creative industries. 

Officially, the Confucius Institute (CI) is a non-profit educational initiative which partners with schools across the globe to provide Chinese language instruction, scholarships for students to study in China, and to promote greater understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

When American political scientist Joseph Nye says China’s soft power is limited, he isn’t kidding. China ranked dead last on a 30-country index of soft power released last week by Portland Communications. The index assessed countries on six measures of reputation and influence.

The 36-member team, which included members of the Phil-Chinese community, paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basillo, who referred to the dual meet as “ping pong diplomacy”, which is what both sides need in the face of tensions gripping the Philippines and China.

The arena for this convergence of two words- science and diplomacy- was displayed at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Washington symposium, where marine science, and the emergence of China’s ‘blue economy’ framed a new narrative in understanding the environmental stakes in the region’s escalating conflict.