Cultural Diplomacy

The exhibition would not only bring the rich Buddhist archaeological treasure of Pakistan to Republic of Korea but also help attract religious tourists to Pakistan, according to a press release of the Pakistan embassy in Seoul. The exhibition starting from March next year, would be held in two cities of Republic of Korea for six months.

The chief executive of the British Council manages an annual income of £980 million, juggling projects which range from helping Nigerians improve their policing methods to touring the work of Turner prize-winner Grayson Perry in Turkey. Since it was founded in 1934, the UK’s cultural relations organisation has expanded to include some 200 offices in 100 countries – and at the helm of this massive “soft-power” behemoth is an Irishman.

"Today Russia and Turkey are in the state of looking for new and activating old formats of cooperation in practically all spheres," [...] "After overcoming an eight-month crisis in our relations, we can see the new wave of activity in humanitarian cooperation, especially in the framework of the Russian-Turkish public forum."

Organizers hope to expand  the exhibition soon and find a larger venue for it. Meanwhile, other U.S. embassies — including the one in Berlin — are also helping Syrian artists gain exposure. Without art and culture, civilized societies cannot exist, said Al Kadri. The exhibition, he added, “is a big chance [to show] that Syria has a deep-rooted civilization.”

South Korea is one of the key Asian nations that Kenya has been keen to build robust relations with. Over the years, the Kenya-Korea relations have been growing. In the years between 2010 and 2012, a Korean Studies project was deliberated upon by the University of Nairobi, the Korean Foundation, the embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kenya  which was to put the two countries relations on another level.

South Korea's cultural ministry held a ceremony on Monday to officially bring down the curtain on the cultural exchange programs with France that started last year. In September last year, the two countries started various events to celebrate the 130th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The extensive programs cover the two nation's culture, politics, education and technology.

The Goethe-Institut announced at its annual press conference on Monday in Berlin that it would be setting up shop in Baku, Azerbaijan and Yerevan, Armenia, in the coming year. The German parliament has reserved three million euros for the branches, which would host language courses and cultural programming. The organization already runs 159 institutes in 98 countries.

Red Round Tomatoes, by Anonymous

A recent conference exemplifies Italy's famed gastrodiplomacy.

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