For decades, public diplomacy has been deemed a long shot in Korea’s statecraft, focusing heavily on shoring up the economy and expanding cooperation with other governments. [...] With the Korea Foundation at the forefront, the country supports Korean studies abroad, cultural events, academic and people-to-people exchanges, overseas publications and other programs. 

Despite all the disagreements between the two countries, his government was looking for ways to promote bilateral people-to-people exchanges. That was why he wanted to talk to us so as to better grasp the subtle differences between Hong Kong and mainland China in terms of public sentiment towards his country.

The South Korean side said the China-South Korean relations are at their historical best, the two sides have enjoyed close high-level contacts, and cooperation in the sectors of economy and trade as well people-to-people exchange has yielded fruitful results.

Have you ever wished that the U.S. would prioritize education as much as it does defense? Ever wondered what diplomacy would be like if there were an equal emphasis placed on deeper connections between people as there is on geopolitical prowess? If so, you might be very keen to learn about the recent U.S./China annual high-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) held in concert with the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED). Now in its fifth iteration, this merger is what I call smart diplomacy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) could be the beginning of a new era in China-ROK relations. Agreements reached during his visit include deals for the launch of RMB clearance in Seoul, political and security cooperation, and expanded people-to-people exchanges. The visit has plotted a clear course for the future of relations, according to Wang Fan of the China Foreign Affairs University.

The United States and China will hold their fourth Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) in Washington, DC on November 21, 2013. CPE is a gathering of high-level officials and members of civil society to bolster both diplomacy and soft power in an effort to strengthen U.S.-China relations. At the 2010 inaugural session, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "[The U.S.-China relationship] must extend beyond the halls of governments to our homes, businesses, and schools.