China and Italy will strengthen their cooperation in multilateral bodies, their leaders agreed during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Italian counterpart Sergio Matterella on Wednesday. [...] The two leaders witnessed the signing of 13 cooperation agreements, which covered technology and innovation, medical science, cultural exchanges, aerospace, electronics and energy.

This year, Koreans can get a taste of Britain thanks to the series of cultural events organized for “2017-18 Creative Futures,” which was designated between Korea and the U.K. last year to engage in a more active cultural exchange by the two countries. [...] There’s been a number of collaboration projects and cultural activities between Korea and the U.K., but according to the British Council, “this will be the first official event to more professionally support the exchanges.”

Education USA at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) celebrated International Education Week (IEW) in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi as part of their ongoing efforts to foster cultural and educational exchange. 

Sailors from Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa, Commander Task Force 76, tenant commands and their families met Soldiers from the 15th Brigade of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Feb. 8-9, to tour each other’s base and participate in cultural exchange. [...] Ishizuka said this quarterly cultural exchange helps break the ice between the two forces and makes working together easier down the road. 

The concept of “Sister Cities” was first initiated by President Eisenhower after World War II and was designed to promote these kinds of bonds between culturally different areas, and, by doing so, to initiate “citizen-to-citizen” diplomacy. Karla Guinigundo, director of global partnerships in Miami’s Global Initiatives program, thinks this partnership will encourage just that.

From the glories of ancient culture to darker shades of contemporary conflict, works by Iraq’s most influential artists are to go on display at a major European event expected to draw at least 500,000 visitors. The National Pavilion of Iraq’s exhibition will be staged at the 57th Venice Biennale in May and feature artefacts spanning six millennia from the Neolithic Age to the Neo-Babylonian period alongside the works of eight modern Iraqi artists.

Cultural cafes like Naqsh in the centre of Amman are prime examples of innovative grassroots projects that help promote cultural dialogue between east and west. [...] narratives concerning the region remain ensnared by political and religious frameworks. Thus populations in the Middle East remain entrapped within politically driven explanations when attempting to answer questions about peace and conflict, Islamism, authoritarianism, etc.