French sinologist David Gosset's book Inspiring Shanghai Photo: Courtesy of David Gosset

Living in Shanghai, sinologist David Gosset syncs several of his professions such as writer and global cooperation campaigner with his personal life. These versatile passions share a single root - the Frenchman's long-standing interest in Chinese culture that was sparked when he first visited the country 28 years ago.

Capitalizing on the very special year of 2024, a time when China and France are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Gosset has published a new book called Inspiring Shanghai. 

The book is Gosset's latest attempt at exploring what he calls the "beauties, complexities, and nuances" of Chinese culture. 

French sinologist David Gosset's Inspiring book series Photo: Courtesy of David Gosset

The 'inspiring' series 

Inspiring Shanghai is a compilation of 29 stories contributed by outstanding Chinese and Western experts in fields such as architecture, music, diplomatic relations, as well as the culinary arts. 

Including Gosset, who is also known by his Chinese name Gao Dawei, these writers share their experiences and observations about Shanghai, and yet many did not depict Shanghai as a "posh island," but rather denoted the city's charm through delineated connections to the world. 

Such stories reveal the international character that has been intrinsic to Shanghai. 

The city has long exemplified the Chinese virtue of supporting cultural diversity. 

In the book, Italian architect Aldo Cibic praises how Shanghai's unique urbanism was shaped through taking bold steps toward city planning innovation. In another chapter, Chinese music educator Liao Changyong explains how Chinese higher education facilities seek for  international art collaborations.

In another chapter, Chinese music educator Liao Changyong has explained how Chinese higher education facilities seeking for art collaborations with the world. 

These seemingly fragmented stories define a collective view shared by many people in China who have witnessed the country's modern growth through the cultural prism of Shanghai.

"This symphony of voices allows readers to engage with a multifaceted understanding of each featured geography, truly capturing its [Shanghai's] essence from various angles," Gosset told the Global Times. 

As a contributing writer, Gosset praises Shanghai's "avant-garde" character. Although Shanghai has long been described as the "Paris of the East," Gosset has nevertheless told the Global Times that the two cities boast unique characters as well as different approaches toward developments contextualized by their separate local cultures. 

"The 'Paris of the East' is, in my eyes, a cliché," said Gosset. He also emphasized that the fundamental similarity between Paris and Shanghai is the two cities' "shared creative character."

Besides Inspiring Shanghai, Gosset tackles other Chinese cities and provinces like Tianjin and Shanxi Province in his larger "Inspiring" series. Shanxi boasts rich folk traditions and ancient architectural legacies like the Yungang Grottoes, which gave Gosset a true taste of Chinese culture while acting as a prelude that engaged him with the nation's profound civilization. 

"For me, the ancient and vibrant Chinese civilization serves as a wellspring of inspiration," Gosset remarked. He also revealed to the Global Times that the next book in his "Inspiring" series is going to focus on multiple innovative occurrences in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

'Chinese Renaissance' 

Observing China's changes has been a tireless hobby for Gosset. In 2018, he was impressed by a Chinese campaign for urban development and construction exhibited by the Shanghai government in Paris just a few miles away from the Seine River. 

The Chinese advertisement left Gosset with an impression of how modern China is seeking to make connections with the world. 

Over the years of observing China, Gosset has come up with his own theory called the "Chinese Renaissance" to describe the country's great transformation from the past as well as its developing economy, which has nurtured not only the country's material growth, but also its people's spiritual lives and their confidence in the Chinese trajectory of development. 

Gosset told the Global Times that the rise of China should not be viewed as a "threat," but as an opportunity for the world. As someone who sees both Chinese and Western virtues, he has dedicated himself to enhancing mutual understanding between the two cultures. 

The sinologist has put his ideas into action by initiating several global cooperation programs such as the Europe-China Forum and the China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative, the fourth edition of which is going to be launched in May. 

The May event is going to focus on several topics, including "underwater archaeology" as well as how museums can bridge the civilizations of China and France. The agenda seeks to enhance cultural exchanges following French President Emmanuel Macron's 2023 visit to China. 

"The relationship between China and France transcends their individual nations, holding significant weight for the world," Gosset told the Global Times. He also added that increased interactions between China and France hold the "potential" to shed light on challenges confronting humanity.

French sinologist David Gosset and his Inspiring book series Photo: Courtesy of David Gosset