Bai L. Foreign policy instruments for shaping the image of the PRC in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe

This dissertation research is devoted to solving a relevant theoretical and applied problem related to the study of foreign policy instruments and their impact on shaping the image of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This phenomenon largely determines the features, current state, and direction of changes in bilateral relations between China and Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. It involves political, economic, technological, scientific-educational, cultural, and other factors, as well as relations with global actors — primarily the United States — which have their own interests in the mentioned European region. In addition, the analyzed issue relates to the study of the nature of image-making practices as instruments of "soft power", serving as a counterbalance to the at times more rigid governmental policy of the PRC.