china
On Monday, the Orchestra flies to Asia to begin a three-week tour — the fifth and final tour under a residency agreement with the Chinese government. The trip is designed to promote diplomacy, both cultural and economic. [...] In addition to concert dates, the Orchestra is planning community events, master classes, and pop-up performances throughout Asia.
On May 11, Moroccan King Mohammed VI visited Beijing and signed a new “strategic partnership” with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping. It calls for heightened political and economic cooperation in the realms of renewable energy, telecoms, and industry — among other forms of potential exchange, including the realms of education, cultural, and tourism.

This news roundup explores soft power seduction strategies in China, Korea and New Zealand.
If there's one thing on which Europeans agree with Donald Trump, it's that the U.S. is gradually losing to China. The Middle Kingdom is working hard to improve its image in Europe and investing lots of money along the way. The queen of England may think Chinese officials are "very rude," but outside Buckingham Palace they are winning influence and friends.
On April 29th, 2016, the inaugural International Forum for China-Japan-ROK Public Diplomacy and Trilateral Cooperation was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. During his opening remark, Mr. Zhang Yesui, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the three countries to study establishing a China-Japan-ROK Cooperation Fund and other important initiatives to provide more support for trilateral cooperation.
NZ Rugby and brand experience company Discovery Partners are planning to open an All Blacks Experience tourism attraction in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour by late 2017 in a 50:50 joint venture. The immersive, interactive tour will feature the rugby team and help promote New Zealand, said Discovery Partners regional director Chris Atkinson.
The ABC has been embarrassed by self-censorship in Chinese language news items selected and posted on its AustraliaPlus.cn website. The broadcaster’s ABC International division recently admitted to Media Watch that the AustraliaPlus.cn website, with online penetration of China’s internet firewall to a potential audience of 700 million people, is actually meant to exclude news and current affairs, with the possible exception of business news.
Ibrahima Syla arrives early to open the doors of the Fama Boutique, his shop at the Soumbédioune Craft Village in Dakar's Medina neighborhood. […] He has noticed a rise in Chinese vendors selling imitation products in markets across the city over the past two decades. "I feel concerned about it [affecting my business]," he says. "An original product is something like a dream and you don't want someone to take it."