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The China Institute of International Studies or CIIS (中國國際問題研究所) 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.

Established in 2024 as an international outreach arm of Jiangmen’s United Front system, the Jiangmen Overseas Chinese Media Center operates under the direct control of the Jiangmen Returned Overseas Chinese Federation (江门市归国华侨联合会). The center is chaired by Yang Xuedong (杨学东), who simultaneously serves as a vice chairman of the Federation. Its primary mission involves cultivating relationships with overseas Chinese-language media to disseminate “Jiangmen stories” internationally. As of 2023, the center claimed partnerships with over 100 overseas Chinese media outlets across 57 countries. It regularly reports to the Federation’s Party Committee Secretary and holds quarterly work meetings where Federation officials provide directives and guidance for its international propaganda efforts.

Established in 1955, according to the federation‘s official website, the Jiangmen Returned Overseas Chinese Federation functions as a mass organization founded and led by the Chinese Communist Party to serve as a bridge between the Party-state and overseas Chinese communities. Operating under the direct leadership of the Jiangmen Municipal Party Committee, but linked to the national United Front Work Department system, the Federation claims to employ 12 staff members across three departments and oversees eight affiliated organizations, including the Jiangmen Overseas Chinese Media Center (江門市僑媒中心). Following the principle of “working domestically while influencing internationally,” the Federation implements overseas United Front work through cultural exchanges, business promotion, and media outreach. According to its website, it has established 986 overseas Chinese organizations citywide, with 437 Party-led overseas Chinese work stations. The Federation actively collaborates with the United Front Work Department to implement the “Overseas Chinese Affairs Strong City” initiative while maintaining relationships with 74 overseas Chinese media outlets across 30 countries.

The Central Propaganda Department (中共中央宣傳部) is the internal office within the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party charged with ideology dissemination, media control and the coordination of propaganda both across China and toward the outside world. The office exercises direct leadership over China’s media control system, including the issuing of “guidance” to newspapers, magazines and online outlets as well as the radio, television, publishing and film industries — ensuring that all outlets, products and initiatives align with party policies. The CPD coordinates with the propaganda offices of local party committees at the provincial, city and county levels. Since the early 1990s, the department has been officially known as the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the CCP, with the use of the word “publicity” an attempt to downplay the deeply political aspect of the office’s daily work.