China’s soft power: concepts, strategies and institutions

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Chinese leadership has spared no effort in increasing China’s soft power and improving the country’s image abroad. Beatrice Gallelli (IAI researcher) dialogues with Maria Repnikova (Georgia State University), a leading expert in the field of Chinese media system at home and China’s soft power push abroad, in order to provide insights into how “soft power” has been conceptualised in the Chinese political context, the strategies and institutions behind China’s “charm offensive” as well as their transformation under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.