Cultural Diplomacy

China's capital might seem an unlikely place to find American football, but interest among China's youth is growing, according to Shen Yu, marketing director for Great Stone Gridiron. The private football club was Beijing's first when it was founded three years ago. Around 500 children participate, including about 150 in tackle football programs.

“The traditional approach of foreign offices and chancelleries, of strategic command centres, now needs to be supplemented and expanded and re-fashioned by public diplomacy and cultural outreach. I draw your attention to a very successful cultural diplomacy policy that the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been vigorously promoting in the last year or so,” he said.

July 24, 2015

News headlines showcased this week how nations utilize cultural diplomacy and other soft power assets to brand themselves abroad.

Ghanaians abroad have been urged to vigorously promote the beauty and elegance of their traditional wears to become the preferred brands internationally. [...] It was to promote the cross-cultural exchange for peace and development between the two countries as well as to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

For more than a month, students at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) have been on strike. The FTII is one of numerous institutions of higher learning funded by the government. 

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.

"I have also been made to understand that these competitions also contribute meaningfully to the aspect of cultural diplomacy and tourism," he said, indicating that those who got podium positions at national level were sometimes accorded international exposure through participation at international expositions or performing at Botswana Day abroad in collaboration with the country's diplomatic missions.

Balinese society is strongly influenced by Indian, Chinese, and Hindu cultures. This spiritual combination can be seen in the photo compilation below as a snapshot of the cultural society, with each entity incorporating a religious background. Here are a few UNESCO cultural heritage sites, both tangible and intangible. 

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