Gabriel Safdie launches book on China

Affair with China chronicles four decades of experiences and observation of change

By Irwin Rapoport

May 20, 2026

China’s influence on the world has been profound, shaping global history, trade and politics for centuries. From a 5,000-year civilization to its modern rise as a superpower, the country’s transformation has had sweeping effects on the global economy, diplomacy and military strategy. Westmount author Gabriel Safdie will explore his long relationship with China at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House in Stanstead this Friday, May 22, at 1 pm. He will discuss his new book, Affair with China, along with a reading and question-and-answer session.

According to the book’s press release, Safdie spent years travelling to China while leading the Montreal-based textile company Safdie & Co., combining business trips with photography and cultural observation. His work includes firsthand memories of China’s rapid changes, including time in Beijing before the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Safdie said his extensive experiences in the country inspired him to share his perspective. He described his relationship with China as both professional and deeply personal, shaped by years of travel, work and close contact with its people.

Before entering the family business, Safdie spent more than 20 years as a writer and literature teacher. After his father died in the late 1980s, he took over Safdie & Co. and eventually expanded it to 12 times its original size before stepping down as CEO several years ago.

His book blends photography, memoir and cultural commentary, reflecting on China’s history, modern development and the tensions between tradition and change. The event is free, but seating is limited. Early arrival is recommended.

For more information about Safdie, visit gabrielsafdie.com

Safdie graciously replied to a few questions in the Q&A below.

WM: With all the books on China, what distinguishes this one?

Safdie: What distinguishes this book above all is its faithful depiction of progressive change in China over more than 40 years. My perspective is unique because I was deeply involved in trade, education, and the arts, while also extensively exploring Chinese culture in my extensive travels.

The various accounts, focusing on a wide array of subjects, are reinforced by accompanying photographs ranging from the 1980s to the present.

WM: What does the book cover in regard to China in terms of locations and developments in society, culture, economics, and so on?

Safdie: My travels covered almost every one of the country’s 22 provinces, as well as major cities and many towns, villages, and rural areas, including some of the most stunning scenic locations in China. The book certainly explores China’s economic development through my personal engagement with a large number of factories as they evolved over the years, as well as through careful observation of advances in high technology, infrastructure, agriculture, urban planning, and more. Throughout the book, I discuss the socio-psychological changes experienced by citizens as they adapted to the radical transformations they were facing. Through my associations with writers, journalists, artists, and professors, I was also able to gain deeper insight into the intellectual, social, and political dimensions of the country over the years.

WM: You were in China at the time of the Tiananmen Square democracy movement. How did that impact you?

Safdie: I happened to be in China during the month leading up to the June 4 crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989. The two key locations were Beijing and Shanghai, while I witnessed the democracy movement throughout the country, all the way to Guangzhou. I noticed great support for the movement from students, workers, businesspeople, including corporate leaders, as well as artists and intellectuals. I was deeply struck by this peaceful movement, which I found inspiring as a civic attempt to reach party leaders with requests for greater openness in freedom of expression, rule of law, and an end to widespread corruption. Like much of world opinion at the time, my sympathies were with the movement, and I found the massacre devastating. Overall, the experience ignited in me a profound interest in Chinese politics and how it impacts Chinese society and the wider world. I became skeptical of the party’s intentions regarding its desire to hold on to power versus serving the people.

Images: courtesy of Gabriel Safdie

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Irwin Rapoport is a freelance journalist and community advocate from Westmount with bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University. He writes extensively on local politics, education, and environmental issues, and promotes informed public discourse and democracy through his writing and activism.