"The old public diplomacy was, 'You tell me what you think and I tell you what I think, and that's the end,'" the former ambassador told China Daily at the Meridian International Center, which is situated in a historic mansion in the US capital.

The Baima people, a mysterious ethnic group inhabiting forest areas along the Baishuijiang River in southwest China, are striving to promote their unique culture so to help the world know more about their history, art, and customs that have been preserved for thousands of years.

I had an opportunity to visit Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe in November 2011. As I traveled from north to south on the African continent, I was able to take a close look at African culture. The trip convinced me that Africa is not a "cultural desert" as some have claimed, but an oasis steeped in culture.

The famous Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei once wrote in a blog, "To express yourself needs a reason, but expressing yourself is a reason." In the highly censored world of Chinese media, this sums up the growing consensus within that country -- and around the world -- that the freedom of expression and dissent is important as an ends, and not just a means.

The meeting will contribute to the formulation of a comprehensive European strategy for culture and has a special focus on the relationship between the EU and China.

Recognised by the Chinese as a symbol of world peace, the panda represents the Yin and Yang concept and is also China's longest serving ambassador when presented as a gift to Japan during the Tang Dynasty around 685 AD.

The issue in question was the Chinese government-sponsored Confucius Institutes hosted by American universities. China has 70 such institution in the United States, more than any other country in the world. The U.S., meanwhile, has all of five America Centers in China.

Malaysia says it will receive a pair of baby pandas from China to mark four decades of diplomatic ties...China regularly sends the prized animals abroad as part of "panda diplomacy" to signal strong relations.