To achieve the goal of meaningful development, progress and modernisation, there is a need for infusing fresh dynamism into Economic diplomacy reflecting the current global, regional realities and compulsions. This would mean not only government to government relationships but crucially, people to people contacts and exchanges.

The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth said it is important to celebrate Singapore’s heritage and culture, adding that the idea of a “distinctive Singaporean culture” is still relatively new and evolving.

A distinctive, bilingual Hispanic American culture is blurring old distinctions between Mexican-Americans and other Latinos. That culture’s swaggering soft power can be felt across the Spanish-speaking world.

Michael Lo Sordo dreams of Paris, but like many fashion designers he is yet to conquer the world's style capital. His dream edged a little closer to reality when he took part in Australian Designers Abroad, a new initiative aimed at promoting Australian fashion design talent during Paris Fashion Week.

No efforts are more notable than the Kingdom of Morocco, which has erected a formidable “soft-power” strategy against Islamic radicalism over the past decade. That strategy is grounded in religious legitimacy.

For all the money thrown at Clarkson and his co-hosts, the enormous international success of the show had made it extremely profitable for the public-service broadcaster. And more importantly, Top Gear's global audience also provided something intangible: Soft power.