Thursday, 15 January 2026—Continuing the Indonesia–China High-Level Dialogue on Sinology, China Studies, and People-to-People Exchange, held at the President Executive Club, Capitol District, Jababeka City, Al Busyra Basnur, S.H., LL.M., Ambassador of Indonesia to Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the African Union (2019–2025), emphasized the vital role of public diplomacy in strengthening international relations.

During his remarks, Ambassador Basnur explained that diplomatic relations between countries are not shaped solely by government policies or official state representatives, but also by the active participation of non-government actors. He highlighted that entrepreneurs, writers, academics, and cultural figures play a significant role in shaping how a country is perceived internationally and in fostering mutual understanding between societies.

He noted that public diplomacy focuses on building trust and emotional connections between nations by engaging directly with communities and civil society. “Public diplomacy is about how to win the hearts and minds of the people. The unique identity of a country is often introduced not by governments or ambassadors alone, but by non-government actors such as entrepreneurs, writers, and other community figures,” he stated.