This visit, which has been called "soft diplomacy," breaks the previous mold of focusing on political and economic power. Instead, the vice president's delegation included members of the cultural, religious, and scientific communities, and elected officials as well.
這項名為「柔性外交」的出訪行程也如其名，打破以往外交以國際政治、經貿實力為主的運作方式，而邀請文化界、宗教界、民選公職、與科技界人士隨行。