China's new leadership has been following a new pattern of diplomacy that features increasing softer elements and a down-to-earth manner. President Xi Jinping's just-concluded trip to Australia serves as a good example. During the state visit, the two Asia-Pacific giants lifted their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and concluded their nine-year-long bilateral free trade talks.

Will the next couple of years be enough to reset US-China ties? An important space for future cooperation is Central Asia. Here Russia and some Israelis too are greatly interested in collaborating with China on a new Silk Road. 

The Chinese media reported yesterday that the pair will perform Little Apple at the American Music Awards this Sunday, along with stars more familiar to Americans, including Mary J. Blige, Fergie, and One Direction. The show could be a breakthrough for the country’s soft-power campaign, an effort by the state-backed entertainment industry to make Chinese culture more popular worldwide. 

In fact it may be that the distinction between "hard" and "soft" power may be morphing into a new concept put forward by Prof Nye, that of "smart power".

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has a won a prize in the inaugural Australia-China achievement awards.  The orchestra won in the arts section of the awards, which are administered by the Australia-China Council at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking at the close of the G20 in Australia on Sunday, said that China was confident it could fulfill its role as the chair of the 2016 summit, after Turkey in 2015.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's crackdown on government corruption, which began almost two years ago, has had a profound impact in China itself.  It is also hurting a specialized niche of the U.S. tourism industry.