Cultural Diplomacy

This summer, two groups of international food bloggers visited Israel for the first time on separate all-expense-paid trips... The goal of these trips and similar ones planned for the future, organizers say, is to expose influential writers to Israel through something as seemingly apolitical as food - and to encourage them to share their impressions of Israeli cuisine and culture with their millions of followers.

The Indian mission has discussed promoting Yoga and Ayurveda in Russia with the Russian State University for the Humanities... Considering how much a part of Russian life yoga has become, the physical, mental and spiritual disciplines of the ancient science are now the biggest proponents of Indian soft power in the country.

September 14, 2012

The mayors of HCM City, Phnom Penh and Vientiane yesterday agreed they would work together towards making the Mekong Sub-region a single attractive tourism destination... The statement said the one tourism destination initiative would strengthen "the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and community development for ASEAN solidarity, peace, dynamism, innovation and sustainability."

United States’ Cultural Ambassador and visual artist Mary Mattingly will be in the Philippines from September 15 to October 31, 2012. The visit is part of the U.S. Department of State’s cultural diplomacy program, smART Power and the U.S. Embassy.

As part of its ground breaking cultural diplomacy initiative, the United States has invited popular Pakistani singer-songwriter duo Zeb and Haniya for a series of public performances in cities across the country.

On Monday, Sept. 10, the recently appointed Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Tara Sonenshine visited Drake to talk about the importance of International Student Exchange... During the discussion, Sonenshine focused on the benefits of both Americans studying abroad and international students coming to America, who serve not only as foreign ambassadors, but as large contributors to our economy.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has added a culinary dimension to the exercise of "smart power" by enlisting 80 top chefs including an Indian-American in the aid of diplomacy. Mumbai native Vikram Sunderam, executive chef at Rasika, a top end Indian restaurant in Washington, is part of the State Department's new Diplomatic Culinary Partnership initiative.

Armed with sharp knives and chopping boards, a new army of US diplomats is to begin navigating rough global waters. But they will more likely have mouths watering, than leave a sour taste behind. In her latest example of what she calls "smart power," the top US diplomat Hillary Clinton has recruited some of America's top chefs to help in her quest to spread US diplomacy and values around the world.

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