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The Forum convened artists, politicians, academics, and representatives of business and the non-profit sector in Paris, November, 2008. Built upon ongoing Aspen Institute public diplomacy roundtables, the Forum served as the launching of a high-level, neutral platform to discuss and act on possible solutions to critical issues in the field, while further reflecting on the development of diverse media, arts, and cultural resources for the strengthening of international relations, mutual understanding, security, and peace-building efforts.
The Council of Women World Leaders, in keeping with our mission of increasing the number, effectiveness, and visibility of women who lead at the highest levels in their countries, welcomed women ministers of culture from Lesotho and South Africa to the Forum where their rich expertise and unique perspectives on cultural diplomacy added value and distinction to the dialogue.
Cultural diplomacy is the development and use of media, arts, and cultural assets in international political, social, economic, and scholarly exchanges. The ideas and usages of cultural diplomacy are evolving very rapidly to include both public and private undertakings that engage societies, strengthen international relations, and sustain peace-building efforts.
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