Rashid Alimov, former SCO Secretary-General, writes of symbols and symbolism in contemporary diplomacy: from Turkmen carpets to Japanese cherry blossoms, tokens bearing unique cultural significance may speak louder than words ever could, showcasing bonds of mutual trust and understanding. Whether showcased through grand ceremonial displays of cultural capital or simple gifts endowed with special meaning, the author highlights the importance of symbols in shaping the modern international diplomatic landscape.
In today’s world—saturated with fleeting emotions and political scandal—ever greater importance is attached to what builds durable and lasting bridges between people. Contemporary politics most often reflect tactical disagreements between states, which do not always have a deep civilisational or ideological basis. Political cycles change more rapidly than public trust can be formed.
For this reason, alongside traditional diplomatic activity, its symbolic dimension acquires particular significance. Symbols operate according to a different temporal logic. They address not today’s news headline, but historical memory, the cultural code, and the emotional experience of societies. In a context of fragmentation of the international environment, erosion of previous mechanisms of global governance, and a growing deficit of mutual trust, symbolic diplomacy becomes not a decorative feature of politics, but arguably its very strategic depth. It does not, of course, replace negotiations and agreements, but it creates the atmosphere in which they become possible. In this sense, symbols are not the periphery of international relations, but their subtle, yet resilient fabric.
Recently, two giant pandas returned to China after a long stay in Japan. In pouring rain, thousands of Japanese people stood in queues to bid farewell to the beloved animals. They did not conceal their tears. They held umbrellas, down which streams of rain ran in unison with their emotions. It seemed as though the sky itself could not remain indifferent.
And this was not merely a farewell. It was a living signal—a sign of the value of these animals and, more broadly, of the value of relations with China. The first pandas arrived in Japan in 1972—at a time when the two countries were seeking paths towards rapprochement. Since then, despite difficult chapters in bilateral relations, shifts in political cycles, and periods of normalisation and cooling, the pandas remained in Tokyo. They endured across decades, serving as a quiet yet stable symbol of connection. And now—their return.
The panda is not simply a rare animal. For China, it is a national symbol, embodying sincerity and friendliness, tolerance and kindness. This is why its presence abroad is never neutral in nature. The panda does not represent China in a formal sense; rather, it embodies, to a certain extent, its image, its tone, its soft power.
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
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