This is the first episode in CET's "A Bridge to China" podcast series marking the 30th anniversary of CET Academic Programs in China. In these half-hour recordings, we aim to reflect on CET's role in educating generations of students who would go on to observe, document and drive China's astonishing history of modernization and development. The podcast features conversations with China journalists, scholars and experts looking back on the last three decades of reform and opening up, and discussing the future importance of overseas study in China.

In the studio with David Moser this week is Jeffrey Wasserstrom, professor of Chinese history at the University of California, Irvine and founder of the well-known roundpanel The China Beat. Also in the discussion are four CET students currently working towards fluency in Beijing. We hope you enjoy the show, which can be downloaded as a standalone mp3 file in addition to being streamed through our on-site player.