During Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s first overseas trip in two years, Singapore named an orchid after her: Dendrobium Jacinda Ardern. South Korea’s K-pop and K-dramas – part of the Hallyu (Korean wave) phenomenon – are frequently cited as relatively recent soft power success stories. Stuff Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo during her first trip overseas since the Covid pandemic began. New Zealand’s businesspeople, artists, athletes, students, academics, officials and others are also all key parts of New Zealand’s soft power. The message I’ve heard from our friends in Asia recently is that we need to once again be in the region, rebuilding our soft power.

Source: Stuff April 25, 2022 05:05 UTC