The relationship between public diplomacy and nation branding is not always clear. I get the impression that a lot of PD practitioners and academics like to draw a clear division even though there are many overlaps between the activities.

With the G-20 Summit officially starting tomorrow, chairwoman of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding Lee Bae-yong unveiled an ambitious plan to upgrade the value of Korea’s national brand. Lee, former president of Ewha Woman’s University, said she will evoke Korea’s culture and history to enhance the nation’s brand value.

Koreans, both individually and collectively, have lingering concerns about their country’s international image. Their national identity is blurred by the existence of two larger neighbors whose culture and history are better known to the world.

The Republic of the Maldives is set to undergo a comprehensive destination branding evolution. Set to launch next year, the Indian Ocean island nation is to develop a new strategy including a new logo, slogan, advertising and worldwide campaign.

The fifth annual G20 Summit, taking place next week in Seoul, will aim to impress the Group of 20 world leaders and delegate with the country's high-tech advances — ultra-fast communication, portable broadband, Web-connected mobile television and other futuristic technologies — "that have become rather humdrum for Koreans," in one assessment.

Canada has the best branding of any nation, knocking the United States off its perch on the top of the heap.

Last week the Shanghai Expo 2010 closed. On three sweltering days this summer I toured the vast and frenzied space that was the Expo. My objective was to see how the nations of the world were representing themselves to the Chinese public and how each responding to the Expo's official theme: 'Better City, Better Life.'

Last week the Shanghai Expo 2010 closed. On three sweltering days this summer I toured the vast and frenzied space that was the Expo. My objective was to see how the nations of the world were representing themselves to the Chinese public and how each responding to the Expo’s official theme: ‘Better City, Better Life.’