Advantages of host-country diplomacy as seen in foreign media coverage of the G20 Hangzhou summit

Zhang Danping & Sha Tao • 66 •

China’s hosting of the G20 Hangzhou summit from September 4 to 5, 2016 received intense coverage from foreign media. Reports about China made up more than one-third of their coverage of the summit. The majority of foreign mainstream media adopted an objective approach, This report conducts research into foreign media coverage of China during the Hangzhou summit and provides a comprehensive analysis while taking into consideration the efficiency of China’s host-country diplomacy.

Analysis regarding the impact of the refugee influx on the EU

Ge Chong • 74 •

The influx of refugees has brought about a huge impact on the EU. In order to effectively solve this problem, measures should firstly be taken to deal with the source of the refugees -- improving the situation in countries like Syria, with no intervention by big powers, respecting the choice of people in relevant countries and curbing the increased refugee flow. In the meantime, a comprehensive solution should be reached within the EU on how to handle the refugees currently present in the various countries acceptable to all parties. Mechanisms and various measures to help refugees blend in should also be adopted. It is also essential for the EU to coordinate with countries like U.S., Russia and Turkey to ensure these countries play a constructive role.

Two models of public diplomacy in the internet era

Zhang Jingsheng • 80 •

The internet has removed the time and space constraints hindering people’s access to information and effective expression, taking diplomacy from something that happens behind the scenes onto the public stage. People in the internet era enjoy unprecedented rights of discourse, without any restrictions of time, space, social status, family background or educational level. This greatly reduces the cost for citizens to participate in decision-making regarding public affairs; thus, so-called “public opinion” can be condensed and embodied more easily into any actions a country takes. If a country wants to make achievements in diplomacy, it has to win support not only from foreign governments, but also from foreign citizens. Hence, public diplomacy has been placed in a more important position.

National-image building building from the perspective of public diplomacy

Wang Wenqi • 85 •

National image-building is an important part of public diplomacy. Seen in the perspective of public diplomacy, national image-building demands emphasis on the knowledge factor, which includes symbols, emblems and narration, in an effort to improve soft power. However, the knowledge orientation has its own theoretical paradox, because it believes in the homogenization of foreign citizens, thus tending to choose similar symbols and emblems. This is because attention is paid to representational rather than background knowledge.

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