Religion and China’s Public Diplomacy in the Era of Globalization

Abstract: Since the end of the cold war, especially since the 9/11, religion’s importance has risen sharply in international relations. It has already become an inevitable and important factor in the strategic considerations of national security and foreign policy in various countries. Therefore, in their considerations for foreign and strategic relations, public diplomacy associated with national religious image, or the so-called religious public diplomacy (faith diplomacy), which depends on their own religions and religious groups as the chief carrier, connecting foreign religious organizations and believers as the main object, and largely concerning about religion and relevant issues, is also gradually rising. This article argues that currently religious groups, academia and the government together constitute the main framework of China’s religious public diplomacy, and gradually form a pattern of divisions in which religious groups can implement programs, academia offer recommendations and suggestions, and governments coordinate; and, that the three sectors share resources, work together and have positive interaction to significantly promote religious public diplomacy of the country.