'Edgar Snow of New Era'

While working in China, Moody's interest in understanding President Xi Jinping and his thoughts grew.

In 2015, when he went to Johannesburg, South Africa, to cover the Second Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, he described Xi as "most charismatic "in his diary after listening to his speech.

He also covered many of Xi's overseas trips, including the state visit to the UK in October 2015 and to South Africa in December the same year.

On Oct 18, 2017, Moody was present in the Great Hall of the People to witness Xi's report to the 19th CPC National Congress, where he announced that socialism with Chinese characteristics had entered "a new era".

Describing the scene, Moody said in a China Daily column that he "had a definite sense of history in the making". He added that "China is moving into a new era in which it is much more confident about its position and status in the world."