China Institute of International Studies
The China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) is a professional research institute established in 1956 and directly administered by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Originally founded as the Institute of International Relations of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it was renamed the Institute of International Relations in 1958 and assumed its current name in December 1986. In 1998, the China Center for International Studies was incorporated into CIIS. The institute focuses on global politics and economics research to facilitate central government decision-making. CIIS comprises eight departments covering regional studies and strategic analysis, with four affiliate bodies. In July 2020, CIIS opened the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Foreign Affairs. In 2020, CIIS was designated as one of China’s 29 “national high-level think tanks.” The organization employs approximately 200 researchers and staff, typically led by former Chinese ambassadors.
