The five countries represent the four corners of south, east, west and central Africa with their distinctive cultures, dance, music, lifestyles and cross-cultural assimilation. The festival is in consonance with India's policy of strengthening its multilateral ties with Africa.

Political dialogue, cultural diplomacy and economic cooperation will be three crucial components of President Pratibha Patil's maiden visit to China from May 26 during which she will also inaugurate the first Indian-style Buddhist temple 'white horse' in Luoyang.

One of the best mine actors from Japan Iimuro Naoki will give solo performances in Hue Festival 2010 and in Hanoi for the first time...According to the organiser, which is the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, the show is hoped to entertain not only adults but also children with its universal body language, which is sublimed in the art of silence.

In a joint statement issued in Seoul yesterday following a summit held at president's office at Cheong Wa Dae, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed to boost economic ties and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Bringing together Qatar’s myriad film initiatives under one banner, H E Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani officially launched the Doha Film Institute (DFI) yesterday. The institute, launched at the Cannes International Film Festival, expands the scope of Qatar’s international film ambitions and ventures.

For 55 years, South Chung-cheong’s Baekje Culture Festival has been a modest regional celebration of one of Korea’s ancient three kingdoms. But this year, the local government is taking it international, running activities to attract foreign visitors to the event from Sept. 18 to Oct. 17 in the district of Buyeo and city of Gongju. With it comes a new name, the 2010 Great Baekje World Festival.

Bangladesh and South Korea have signed two agreements and two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between the two Asian nations...The agreements are on an economic development fund loan and a cultural exchange programme while the MoUs were on energy cooperation and environmental protection.

DOT paintings from the indigenous Papunya community are heading to the heart of Beijing. In an exercise in cultural diplomacy, packers at the National Museum of Australia spent yesterday sliding paintings from its successful 2007-08 exhibition into crates marked for the National Art Museum of China.