Cultural Diplomacy

The China-proposed “Belt and Road” initiative has moved the first concrete steps in Italy, whose authorities and experts see a range of win-win opportunities for both countries. 

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.

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