ABSTRACTS

S

Vision

Tell Our Own Stories and Enrich the National Image

Zhao Qizheng · 1 ·

How can an ordinary Chinese do better in contributing to national reputation through public diplomacy? All they need to do is to tell stories of their own and of others’ around them in an appropriate way. These stories are from the daily life, they are real, rich, natural, vivid, lively and easy to understand, but not so rhetoric. They can move people deeply and improve the image of China and Chinese people successfully.

Report

Proposals on Improving Shanghai’s International Exchange Influence and Promoting the Building of Modern World Metropolis

Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference Committee of International Friendship · 4 ·

Shanghai is an important opening-up city in China. In the long term, compared with other cities, Shanghai enjoys a strong advantage in international exchange influence. However, after entering the new century, this comparable advantage is shrinking. On the other hand, stronger international exchange ability is required in the new historical period. Therefore, Shanghai is facing double challenges. It should consider how to increase its international exchange influence in order to promote the development of this modern metropolitan city. This report, based on the key work schedule of Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference in 2013, is the research and analysis by more than 20 members from the Committee of In ternational Friendship and experts from universities, which focuses on how to further improve Shanghai's international exchange influence and to promote the development of this modern world metropolis.

Special Report

Public Diplomacy and Cultural Soft Power The Problems and Ideas of China's Cultural Diplomacy

Zhao Kejin · 19 ·

As a cultural power, China has a unique resource advantage in cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy refers to culture communication by foreign exchanges. Although some progress has been made in cultural diplomacy since the founding of new China,many problems still exist in practical work, and we should do more to transform cultural resources into diplomatic advantage. How to analyze the problems and their root causes, so as to explore ways to solve the problems has been an important task in cultural diplomacy.

Need to Borrow Strength to Improve China's International Discourse Power

Zhang Shengjun · 26 ·

International discourse power is essentially a kind of power, which conforms to the universal law of generation and development. As China gradually adapts itself to the international system, rules and order dominated by the United States and other western countries, and takes a comprehensive and in-depth participation in the international affairs, China's international discourse power will be improved greatly to commensurate with its strength and status. This paper argues that, with a lower cost and less risk, the "innovative way" for China's voice to be heard internationally is to borrow strength from the international mainstream value in a tactical way.

How to Mold China’s Unique National Image

Yao Yao· 33 ·

A civilized country, an oriental country, a responsible country and a socialist country constitute the most important foundation for contemporary China’s national image. This makes a clear principle which has been ignored for a long time. Compared with the Western powers, characteristics of China’s national image must be well explained. If we only recognize the Western audience as the main target, and always copy or imitate the existing image of the Western countries, China’s national image will be doomed to failure at the starting line.

Project Assessment Report of Happy Spring Festival

Bureau for External Relations of Ministry of Culture · 40 ·

In recent years, China's relevant departments and regions have attached great importance to cultural exchanges with foreign countries, and made fruitful achievements. "Happy Spring Festival", initiated by the Ministry of Culture, has become a very important cultural exchange brand activity. Scientific evaluation on "Happy Spring Festival" has been carried out by Bureau for External Relations of Ministry of Culture and Peking University’s School of Journalism ＆Communication since October, 2013 .This article, from the evaluation report, provides experiences and lessons in relation to foreign cultural exchanges.

Commentary

Conceptual Differences of Strategic Partnership in EU-China Relations

May-Britt U. Stumbaum＆Xiong Wei · 46 ·

On the establishment of the EU-China strategic partnership, the then-High Representative of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana,stated that “the EU wants to work alongside China in addressing key problems,since the two sides are both strong, and are both looking to make constructive contributions to the stability of our regions and of the international community”.However, growing frictions in the Sino-European relationship have not only shown that the “relationship is getting serious and the honeymoon is over,” but also that there is a lack of understanding and knowledge about the other entity and its respective comprehension of the concept of a strategic partnership. In fact, there seems to be a conceptual gap between China and the European Union. Most literature on EU-China relations and the strategic partnership in particular has so far focused on the policyrelevant side of the relationship, i.e. on mutual expectations and global challenges to tackle together. This chapter will therefore focus on the conceptual differences between China and the European Union in regard to strategic partnerships and will conclude with recommendation on how to manage this gap.

Japan’s Territory Propaganda and Its Domestic Public Opinion

Kobayashi Somei ＆ Zhao Xinli · 56 ·

Yoshihiko Noda administration "nationalized" Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands in Japanese) in September 2012, and Sino-Japanese relations have dropped to the freezing point. The two countries both demonstrate the legitimacy of their claims to the territory sovereignty over the islands by means of public diplomacy. This article tries to observe Japan’s international propaganda strategy and practice, as well as its domestic opinions about Diaoyu Islands.

To Participate is the Most Important in Public Diplomacy

Xu Yicong · 67 ·

Since public diplomacy has been given a particular emphasis on the necessity and importance, people are trying to define it or to delimit it. In short, public diplomacy has a very wide range and a high degree of attention. Having been engaged in the government's foreign policy for many years, the author tries to talk about the characteristics of public diplomacy through his understanding and practice of public diplomacy.

Interview

Public Diplomacy from the Perspective of Peace Studies

-An Interview with Johan Galtung, Father of Peace Studies

Ke Yinbin · 72 ·

In the current complicated and changing international context, various disputes and frictions are occurring between many countries. The surrounding environment of China is not optimistic, and the word "peace" claims even higher attention. On May 15, at the China International Friendship Conference and the 60th anniversary of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries conference,Xi Jinping put forward that people wish for peace forever. Peace is like air and sunshine, from which we benefit without conscious and without which it is hard to live. What importance does peace studies have for China? What is the relationship between peace and public diplomacy? To solve these problems, we had an interview with the father of the peace studies, professor Johan Galtung. He is the founder of international peace studies(TRANSCEND), the international Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), the Peace Research Journal (Journal of Peace Research).

Charhar Roundtable Meeting

Public Diplomacy ＆ National Image

Zhao Qizheng et al · 78 ·

At the 2014 Bo’ao Forum, the meeting " Public Diplomacy ＆ National Image " was held in the international conference center on April 11. Several important guests had a discussion on national image and the impact of economy and culture in promoting mutual understanding and trust among countries. The main points are summarized in this article to be shared with our readers.

Case Studies

Characteristics of Diplomat's Weibo and Its Effect Analysis

Zhao Hongyan＆Wang Kai · 82 ·

As an immediate, interactive and dynamic information platform, Weibo, microblog,has increasingly been given more attention by the diplomatic organizations of every country. Weibo diplomacy not only includes official accounts of organizations but also diplomats' personal Weibo accounts. The diplomats' Weibo is more human, more interactive and highly selective. By comparing the communication motivations and practical effects of diplomats' Weibo, this paper tries to outline the prospect of public diplomacy.

The Chinese in Africa should Actively Integrate into Local Society

Mi Xiaosheng · 89 ·

For more than a decade, Sino-African relations have been developing rapidly.With the steady progress of bilateral economy and trade, more and more Chinese will head to Africa to apply for a job or start a business. If Chinese people don't integrate into Africa proactively, Sino-African people-to-people relationship will be difficult to have a healthy development and the comprehensive development of Sino-African relations will not be promoted smoothly. In order to integrate into the local society proactively,Chinese people and companies in Africa should connect the development with Africa's development by hiring more African employees, be more open to Africa and make more contacts with Africans, assess the local laws, policies, culture, and political(war)risks before heading to Africa, and attach great importance to the corporate’s social responsibility.

Public Diplomacy Practice of Wenzhou People

Zhang Xiaoyan · 96 ·

Wenzhou people have spontaneously explored various public diplomatic means,including the equality between government officials and citizens, inter-city civilization exchanges, international business communication and different culture integration and so on, which shows the universality of local public diplomacy, the non-governmental nature of its main body, the mental spontaneity and the behavioral dispersibility of public diplomacy in Wenzhou. The present public diplomacy in Wenzhou is becoming more self-realization, more orderly and more diversified.

Experience and Lessons from Japan Exhibition Hall in the New York Metropolitan Museum

Zhang Peng · 103 ·

As a kind of public cultural exchange platform, large museums make public diplomacy subjects and objects reachable and touchable. Japan exhibition hall in the New York Metropolitan Museum has formed the style of a blend of traditional and modern, paying attention to physical exhibition while interactive with public. The decoration in the room is also a perfect model through long-term accumulation and public relations planning.The subtle and specific public cultural diplomacy can deeply impress the public and large Chinese overseas museums can learn from it.

Diplomatic History

The Personal Diplomatic Stories of Overseas Reporters

Ma Jianguo · 109 ·

Overseas reporters are the collectors of information when stationed abroad, and in the meantime they are information distributors. They even can be spokespersons of one country or nation. Overseas reporters have engaged themselves in public diplomacy activities without awareness. Sometimes reporters' own opinions are even more convincing than the official’s.The basic qualifications of public diplomacy and public relations are very necessary for overseas reporters. The author tells several enlightening stories about his overseas stint.

Book Review

How Foreigners Interpret the Long-term China Dream

-Comment on Wealth and Power—China’s Long March to the Twenty-first Century

Huang Youyi · 115 ·

While the concept of "China Dream" is the hot topic both at home and broad,Orville and John Delury, two of today’s foremost American specialists on China,published the book Wealth and Power—China’s Long March to the Twenty-first Century in 2013. With 15 chapters and nearly 500 pages, the book is a monumental work in interpreting China Dream in English. Among all the foreign books that focus on the modern history of China, this book provides a panoramic narrative of this country’s rise to preeminence after 200 years’ humiliation history. The book is of great historical as well as modern significance.