The event was attended by the Director of the Vientiane Department of Education and Sports, Somphou Keopannho, and Cultural Counsellor from the Vietnamese embassy in Laos, Pham Van Khanh, as well as teachers, parents, and children. Counsellor Khanh presented gifts to the children and said he believes that the Nguyen Du School will become one of the best schools in Vientiane.

The mayors met at San Francisco City Hall on the 16th anniversary of the sister city pact, vowing to continue working together on economic, technological and cultural initiatives. According to SF Appeal, Lee presented Delanoë with photographs of the Golden Gate Bridge taken to commemorate the landmark's 75th anniversary this year. "I love the Golden Gate Bridge," replied Delanoë in English.

American music bridged difference with the Vietnamese, Golub said. American musicians were surprised to see that their music had an immediate impact on the Vietnamese with whom the US fought a war for many years.

China and Japan should give public diplomacy a chance rather than rely only on the official channels to help resolve their conflict over the ownership of Diaoyu Islands, Chinese scholars say.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with USA Hockey, announces that a group of American youth ice hockey players will travel as Youth Sports Envoys to Moscow, Russia, October 5 – 14, 2012.

Hundreds of residents in Kampala, Uganda's capital, gathered at the Railway Ground in the city's downtown and hailed performances by a visiting Chinese acrobatic troupe on the evening of Sept 27.

During the recent crisis in Libya and the events surrounding the online dissemination of a hateful video, many asked: what tools does the State Department have to respond to audiences and engage people around the world in real time?