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Singapore exhibition in Mexico City: A new model for soft power and cultural diplomacy?

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Somos Pacifico, or We Are The Pacific, is a pointed and powerful statement that traces relations between South-east Asia and Mexico.

Somos Pacifico, or We Are The Pacific, is a pointed and powerful statement that traces relations between South-east Asia and Mexico.

PHOTOS: NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE, ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM

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  • President Tharman's Mexico visit included opening the Somos Pacifico exhibition, showcasing historical links between South-east Asia and Mexico through 300 objects.
  • Ambassador Loaeza's efforts were key in bringing the Singapore exhibition to Mexico, highlighting cultural diplomacy's role in strengthening international ties beyond economic factors.
  • Singaporean curators aim for unbiased perspectives, addressing post-colonial identity searches and promoting cultural exchange amid geopolitical shifts.

AI generated

MEXICO CITY – Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s recent state visit to Mexico set the stage for the formal announcement of a Singapore embassy there in 2026.

But more understated on his four-day work trip was a Dec 3 pit stop at the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City’s historic centre, where he had a more unusual mission:

to open a culture and art exhibition.

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