US and Iran faced off at the World Basketball Championships here on Wednesday night, electrifying Iranian fans and offering a rare opportunity for people of the two arch-enemy nations to meet face to face. It was the latest instance of sports diplomacy first used by both sides in the late 1990s to ease US-Iran hostility.

Chinese are welcome to visit Greece all year round, the Greek Secretary General of Tourism George Poussaios told China.org.cn Tuesday in Beijing after a cultural exchange deal was signed between China and Greece.

China's Minister of Culture Cai Wu arrived in Taipei Thursday at the head of a 40-member delegation for an eight-day visit...Cai was invited by the Taipei-based Sheen Chuen-chi Cultural and Educational Foundation to visit in his capacity as chief of Beijing's China Friendship Association.

Cheerleaders donned black leggings and white T-shirts for a world championship basketball match between Iran and the United States in Istanbul on Wednesday to respect cultural sensitivities...Patrick Baumann, secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), said "special arrangements" had been made with the dancers' dress on Wednesday.

Since the entry of the 21st century, public diplomacy in China has arrested a growing widespread attention with each passing day. The Chinese government has attached increasing importance to its role. So, public diplomacy and government diplomacy supplement each other, and they are pairing off wing to wing in China's diplomacy.

A British composer says he is "deeply disappointed and dismayed" by the British Council's decision to cancel a performance of his ballet in China because it was dedicated to the people of Tibet. Pete Wyer's The Far Shore was created for the Shanghai Expo and was to be premiered next week as the highlight of the event's "UK National Day".

Greek and Chinese authors and publishing housesTuesday signed a cultural exchange agreement to promote book publications in both languages.

Jazz legend Mike Clark has confirmed plans for a tour of Russia next month, to promote cultural diplomacy and to introduce audiences in Moscow, Siberia, St. Petersburg and elsewhere to his acclaimed Owl Studios release, ‘Carnival of Soul'.