Comment on "Mandarin competition promotes ties with Laos" (China Daily, April 16)

China has made great efforts to export its culture to the outside world to boost its soft power as well as revamp its international image.

During President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States in January, several departments launched a joint campaign at Times Square in New York to promote China's image. But it didn't attract much attention because Americans were not familiar with the celebrities who appeared in the advertisement.

Therefore, I think promoting the use of Mandarin is a better way of building China's image abroad, because it can propel communication between Chinese people and foreigners.

Cultural exchanges between people of different countries play a more effective and active role in helping them understand each other well.

I am glad to see Confucius Institutes being set up across the world, contributing to China's soft power and facilitating people-to-people exchange. By learning Mandarin, foreigners can know more about Chinese people, society and culture. I hope that more Chinese teachers would be sent aboard to promote cultural exchange.

Shen Qing, via e-mail

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