The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in Geneva will be held in parallel to the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and will focus on the importance of sustainable development to the future of developed and developing countries.  The conference will offer perspectives on how cultural diplomacy policies can assist in strengthening existing and future sustainable development policies and, in particular, how cultural diplomacy practices are necessary to express and mediate the rationale behind investment in sustainable development during this challenging period.