China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy

As staunch proponent of China’s peaceful rise, CIIDS strongly advocates developing convergence of interests in all directions and at various levels and building communities of interests between China and the world, with an eye to achieving peaceful development for all. Since its inception, CIIDS has conducted a wide range of important research projects on China's international strategy, major country relations, domestic innovation and development strategy, the Internet strategy, social governance, and governing philosophy. Many of its policy recommendations have been adopted by the Chinese leadership and incorporated into the government's domestic and foreign policies.

Devoted to helping the world understand China by telling the China story well and conveying China’s voice, CIIDS has undertaken a series of major projects under the theme of Understanding China.

In collaboration with the 21st Century Council of the Berggruen Institute, CIIDS has successfully held three Understanding China Conferences in Beijing in 2013, 2015 and 2018. Up to 100 former heads of state or government, strategists and business leaders from around the world have attended the Conference, making it one of the most prestigious platforms for the world to understand China's domestic and international strategies. At the first two Conferences, Chinese President Xi Jinping met and held dialogues with the international participants on both occasions; Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the then Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli attended and addressed the opening ceremonies. At the 3rd Understanding China Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Conference. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met and held dialogues with the international delegates. Director Yang Jiechi of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee attended and addressed the opening ceremony. In 2019, Understanding China Conference was held in Guangzhou, China. President Xi Jinping met foreign delegates and sent a congratulatory letter to the Conference. Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Publicity of the CPC Central Committee, addressed Opening Ceremony of Understanding China Guangzhou Conference and read President Xi Jinping's Congratulatory Letter to the Conference.

In partnership with China International Publishing Group, CIIDS compiled and published the Understanding China Book Series, a collection of books contributed by esteemed Chinese and international scholars. The first edition of forty books came out in both Chinese and English in 2018, which has been widely praised and won a series of awards. During the Understanding China Guangzhou Conference, the second edition of the Understanding China Book Series was officially launched. The Understanding China Documentary and related online videos are also in the works, which are scheduled to go on the air in mainstream international television or cyber networks by the end of 2020.

In April 2018, CIIDS Institute for Innovation-Driven Development was established. The institute, as its name indicates, is dedicated to conducting innovation-driven development related research and projects and providing top-level design and practical assistance for the upgrading of regional economic development and the shift of growth drivers based on the actual regional economic and social development needs.