Follow the pandas: they remain a good guide to where China’s biggest foreign policy interests lie. Since “panda diplomacy” began in the 1950s with an overture to the Soviet Union, gifts of cuddly-looking bears with cutesy names have helped point to the big themes in Beijing’s strategic positioning.

CPD University Fellow and Associate Professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, Jay Wang's new book, Soft Power in China: Public Diplomacy through Communication, has just been published by Palgrave Macmillan as part of their Global Public Diplomacy series.

There has been an officially sanctioned revival of Confucius in recent years, as authorities have turned to his teachings to reach out to the international community to strengthen China's "soft power" and counter an invasion of Western culture.

President Ma Ying-jeou says that he hopes to make Taiwan into an Asia-Pacific education hub. Ma was speaking at a forum organized by Commonwealth magazine in Taiwan. The president spoke about how Taiwan's higher education can become a major industry.

India's annual convention to connect with its 27-million strong diaspora in over 150 countries concluded Sunday with President Pratibha Patil honouring 14 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India's image globally.

India will set up cultural centres in five more countries to showcase its soft power and acquire a global footprint for its rich diversity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Saturday.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired the second meeting of the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians on 7 January, 2011. Fourteen eminent overseas Indians from across the world attended the meeting. The External Affairs Minister, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and senior officials also attended the meeting.

What if the United States isn't just experiencing a deep recession but is entering a period of long-term economic decline? Analysts point out that in some ways the U.S. has already taken a backseat to China, which is the world's largest manufacturer and exporter.