DUBAI --- Take a look at Barack Obama’s 2009 speech in Cairo. It was beautifully written and radiated good intentions. The U.S. government relied heavily on new media tools to disseminate it throughout the Arab world and beyond. Arab opinion of Obama improved significantly; and then it dropped like a rock.

Taiwan has a plan to compete with China in the international cultural propaganda stakes: by opening “Taiwan Academies” that will teach the Chinese language with a strong focus on traditional characters and culture.

The U.S. Travel Associationn, the trade group for the country's travel industry, unveiled a plan Thursday to help get more international travelers to visit the U.S. The association's plan calls on the federal government to overhaul the process to approve visas for foreign visitors.

The State Department will be expanding the joint educational programs between the United States Government and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training...to link community colleges across the United States with Further Education and Training centers in South Africa.

The EU needs to add more culture to its diplomatic efforts to promote human rights, democracy and development in third countries, says a Parliament resolution. MEPs advocate setting up a "cultural diplomacy" directorate to take charge of cultural relations and promoting European culture.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, visiting China this week, tells China Real Time he is hosting Chinese manufacturers, shippers and other business people at dinners, lunches and wine tastings in hopes of encouraging a brand-name Chinese company to think of “Old Dominion” as its U.S. home.

South Korea will use its "soft power" as an instrument of cultural diplomacy to promote exchanges in various areas between countries, the parliamentary speaker said Thursday, as he prepared to host a conference of his counterparts from the Group of 20 countries next week.

The first Indian cultural festival was opened during a ceremony at the Niavaran Cultural Artistic Complex on Tuesday. Indian films and Indian music are being performed during the event and participants will offer Indian food and Indian handicrafts to visitors during the festival...