Cultural diplomacy is an integral part of foreign relations, particularly as a foundation for the advancement of other foreign policy and diplomatic objectives... Cultural diplomacy is the means by which the American people can show to the world that while they can espouse certain values, they can also live by them.

The Iranian Embassy opened "Iran Cultural Week" in Jakarta on Wednesday in an effort to open up a cultural exchange between the two allies.

TAIPEI --- While the latest aircraft carrier movements and military maneuvers here are chronicled closely in U.S. media, significant public diplomacy initiatives go largely unreported. This past week provided a prime example:

Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong’s week-long visit to Taipei has been front-page news in this region, in newspapers from Korea to Singapore. For his first-ever visit, the mayor led a 500-person delegation – yes, five hundred people – including party officials, business leaders and Chinese celebrities.

VaughanTown takes a new approach to a cultural exchange program which finally offers the chance to get to know Spain and its people without the language barrier. The program, based on one to one conversation sessions and group activities, runs for 6 days and 5 nights, from Sunday to Friday, almost all year round.

In partnership with the Chinese embassy in the United States, the WAE brought the "Colorful China," a cultural exchange program that made its debut in the United States in October 2010, back here again last November with a showcase of exquisite costumes, dances, music and rich fabric of Chinese ethnic groups.

Signaling a sharp change of course in the country’s largest international cultural exchange program, the State Department has banned a leading sponsor company from bringing foreign students to the United States for summer jobs and will add new restrictions to protect students from labor abuse, officials said Wednesday.

Soft power and diplomacy, particularly in entertainment, is something that America excels at. One of America’s greatest talents is the ability create something universal, but that can also be adapted and accommodate different interests and cultures.9

Vice-President Xi Jinping's trip to the United States this year is expected to be an opportunity to further promote public diplomacy between the two countries, as more US citizens have positive views on China, a US embassy spokesman said on Thursday.