Speaking on foreign policies, President Putin stressed that the so-called “mild force” and efficient use of its mechanisms were becoming a priority in the modern world. He stressed that diplomats now played an increasing role in economics, business cooperation and new market exploration.

Track two exists on many levels and for many purposes. Some projects bring together those close to the centres of power. Other track-two projects are targeted at the civil society level with the objective of promoting broader change on a societal level. Still others involve professional groups attempting to influence policy.

Bangkok governor candidates have been painting a rosy picture of the capital under their stewardship, but what's glaringly missing from their campaign bullet points and speeches is the policy and vision of Bangkok as a city of arts and culture. "Art and culture must be on the master Bangkok agenda, not something on the side.... We're talking about 'soft power' and how the creative industry can generate income."

TODAY, February 10, Chinese people worldwide celebrate one of their most important and revered cultural traditions, called in Mandarin language as the Spring Festival and outside of China as the Chinese New Year. Such celebrations wherever in the world the Chinese diaspora is embraced, are a manifestation of what may be called China’s “soft power”—where its very nature and personality convert into plusses for this great civilization.

“They were remarks made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. But since then we have welcomed in the 21st century. I want to make a declaration for the Abe Cabinet that is appropriate for the 21st century, one that is oriented toward the future.”

Thus did Prime Minister Shinzo Abe put forth his stance on 1995′s so-called Murayama Danwa (Murayama Remarks) — which he is evidently set on fundamentally altering — in an interview published in the conservative Sankei Shimbun daily newspaper on Dec. 31, 2012.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired back on Saturday in his first public reaction at remarks made by top US envoy in Ankara about Turkey's judicial system. In his remarks on February 5 to Ankara bureau chiefs of the Turkish media, the US envoy said lawmakers, military leaders and students were behind bars for long periods of time in Turkey on what he said sometimes unclear charges.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday, in his first public comment about US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit, said the trip was very important to underline the strong US-Israeli ties at a time of a raging regional storm.

The Chinese table tennis player who was instrumental in the pingpong diplomacy that paved the way for President Nixon's groundbreaking visit to China has died. Zhuang Zedong was 73. Zhuang, a three-time world champion, was a major sporting figure in China. Photographs of him with Cowan created a stir because of poor relations between their two countries.