| Public Diplomacy is the inevitable result of international politics and economic development. Since the1990’s, with the deepening of globalization and inter-dependence of world economy, public diplomacy has emerged in the international relations arena and rapidly developed. Unlike the traditional diplomacy, such as the strong political interference, economic or military sanctions, public diplomacy is a new type of diplomacy, aiming at promoting the nation’s image, increasing the nation’s soft power, and serving the nation’s interests with the use of communication and culture popularization and other peaceful means. Therefore, public diplomacy, prioritized by governments around the world nowdays, is turning into an essential part in each country’s foreign policies and diplomatic agendas. The past60years since its founding has seen a great enhancement of China’s comprehensive power and international prestige, yet the distrust, opposition and defamation from some western countries have never gone. Therefore, China, by taking advantage of public diplomacy, is more eager than ever to gain the basic knowledge, understanding or even recognition of foreign people about China’s historical culture, development path, ideas of governance and foreign and domestic policies in an objective manner, establish and maintain China’s image as a peaceful, developing, cooperative and responsible country, thus increase China’s international voice and ensure the implementation of national strategies and policies.Public diplomacy, as a diplomatic method focused on information publicity, education and cultural exchange to people in foreign countries, especially the mainstream and social elite, has supportive significance to a country’s general diplomacy with gradual mental influence as the main characteristic and long-term recognition and identity as the key. The implementation body of public diplomacy includes, but not limited to government’s foreign policy sections and non-governmental organizations, such as people’s associations, mass media, religious groups and foreign and domestic celebrities, who could express and introduce the country’s status or foreign policies etc. to foreign non-governmental organizations, mass people or even foreign governments in different perspectives by using their expertise in respective fields and international communication arena with the ultimate goal is to increase the exchange and interaction of each other and achieve the promotion of the country’s image and identity by people in foreign countries. Coincided with such features as "communicative, dialogical, trustful and harmonious", the International Popularization of the Chinese Language has a typical public diplomacy property and has become one of the most important public diplomacy practice in China. In the process of the International Popularization of the Chinese Language, two-way communication and equal dialogue should be stressed by following related theories of public diplomcy. Through these gentle methods, further enhancement of the interaction and communication with foreign public will be achieved, as well as a more objective and comprehensive understanding of China realized. In addition, it will help to inctrease understanding and trust, eliminate misunderstanding and misjudgement of foreign publis, thus achieving the goal of establishing good reputation, improving the environment of international public opinion, as well as shaping a positive image of China. Therefore, the international popularization of the Chinese language should, in accordance with public diplomacy theory, give full play to the role of language in term of dissemination of culture and thoughts, establish a communicative and interactive public diplomacy mode putting language as the core. Currently, opportunities and challenges coexist in the international popularization of the Chinese language. Analyzing this process in the perspective of public diplomacy will not only help to find the gaps and weaknesses of China’s language poplarization, but establish a promotion mechanism guided by public diplomacy theories as well, thus optimize the promotion mode and enhance the promotion effect and continue to improve the international popularization of the Chinese language.The innovation of this paper is to firstly expound systematically about the international popularization of the Chinese language in terms of public diplomacy properties and significance by using public diplomacy theories and combining with the characteristics and value of the international popularization of the Chinese language, thus provides a new perspective for the understanding of the international popularization of the Chinese language. Secondly, to analyze the opportunities and challenges faced by the international popularization of the Chinese language with the guidance of public diplomacy theories, and put forward ideas and solutions in the purpose of giving full play of the function of public diplomac and in terms of path of development and countermeasures of the international popularization of the Chinese language. |
