近年来，一大批普通中国人开始在海外社交媒体平台分享他们的日常生活和想法。他们或是在YouTube或Instagram平台上上传视频或图片，或是在Twitter 或者Facebook上与国外网民交流互动，内容基本围绕中国文化、中国艺术，以及新冠肺炎疫情等国际关注的全球问题。中国网民这种自发自觉的行为，代表了一种新的公共外交形式，有效地向全世界展示了一个真实、生动、多样的中国。
越来越多的国际关系和国际传播学者也关注到这一现象。环球时报邀请我院董关鹏教授就“国际传播中的民间力量”为话题发表了专家看法。
“Their efforts have made people feel that public diplomacy, based on people-to-people connections, is a new [style] of diplomacy that is more vigorous and humanistic than the traditional one, Steven Dong, professor and dean of the School of Government and Public Affairs under the Communication University of China, told the Global Times.”
“他们的努力让人们看到一种基于民心相通的新的公共外交形式，这种形式比以往传统的公共外交更具活力，也更人性化。中国传媒大学政府与公共事务学院院长董关鹏教授接受环球时报采访时说。”
“The export of China's traditional culture is more likely to be accepted by foreign audiences, as the spread of some of the country's modern, contemporary things have been prevented and slandered by the West, Dong said. Under the current [political] siege by the West, it's not surprising that Chinese culture - which is glamorous enough in itself and transcends the political limits of the moment - has gained popularity overseas, he added.”
“中国传统文化的’输出‘更容易被外国观众接受，因为相较于一些“现代”、“当代”事物的传播早已被西方惯性误读和抵制。在当前西方的(政治)围攻情形下，不受政治限制，本身就极具魅力的中国文化在海外受到广泛欢迎，也是理所当然的。”他补充道。”
