APDS Blogger: Hend Alhinnawi

Culture, as an underlying force that shapes global public diplomacy, remains curiously unexplored. Most focus on the positive, visible side of culture. As a soft power resource, culture is often viewed as a product for export that can help improve a country’s image. In cultural diplomacy, culture is a vehicle for bringing people together.

APDS Blogger: Anna Dawson

Welcome to the opening entry of Culture Posts, an interactive blog for exploring the cultural underbelly of public diplomacy. Over the next two years, I hope that you will join me, collecting and discussing your insights on the hidden, and often times not so hidden, aspects of culture in public diplomacy.

Hu said the two sides should expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges and use the occasion of celebrating the 40th anniversary of normalizing ties to develop a long-term plan for exchanges in the areas of youth, young cadres, culture, tourism, media and local governments so as to improve mutual understanding and friendly feelings between the two peoples.

The event "is in itself an excellent example of important public diplomacy exchanges in the EU-Vietnam relation,” said Mr. Franz Jessen, ambassador – head of the Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam.

As we celebrate 149 years of banking in South Africa we are proud to showcase the various cultural collaborations we’ve initiated over the years. One of our proudest annual events is the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, which brings together international and local jazz artists, jazz lovers and music gurus from around the globe.

Through the meeting of cultural heritage for these countries and with the blessing of science and technology, everyone can now open wider horizons and a promising future through working together with a spirit of friendship and humanity, he said.