Arriving in China more than thirty years ago with nothing more than an interest in Chinese culture and philosophy, David Moser ended up witnessing China’s monumental evolution from a country just discovering Coca Cola to a wealthy, worldly, and confident nation. His experiences in China inspired his enthusiasm for cultural exchange, the importance of curiosity, and the necessity of dialogue to grow greater understanding of the country he calls home.

In an interview recorded on July 5, 2024, David Moser joins the National Committee to discuss his insights into Chinese culture and the importance of engaging with each other through shared humanity.

David Moser

David Moser holds a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Chinese Studies from the University of Michigan, with a major in Chinese Linguistics and Philosophy. He has been based in Beijing for over 30 years, and has been active in academic and media circles. Moser was a visiting scholar at Peking University in 1987-89, a visiting professor for five years at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (北京外国语大学), Academic Director at CET Chinese Studies at Beijing Capital Normal University, and Associate Dean of the Yenching Academy at Peking University from 2017-19. He is currently Associate Professor at Beijing Capital Normal University.


Moser appears occasionally on the BBC radio show Business Matters, and is also a frequent China analyst on Al Jazeera television. He has worked at China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing as a program advisor, translator, and host, and continues to be active on Chinese television as a commentator in both Chinese and English on news shows such as CGTN Dialogue and World
Insight.


Moser is author of the book A Billion Voices: China’s Search for a Common Language, published by Penguin. He currently co-hosts with Jeremiah Jenne a biweekly podcast Barbarians at the Gate, which covers aspects of Chinese history and modern culture.