Beijing International Studies University established the China Academy of Belt and Road Initiative (CABRI), the first of its kind in the country, in 2014. Currently CABRI serves as the Secretariat of the Silk Road Think Tank Association (the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC), the Secretariat of China Council for BRICS Think-tank Cooperation（the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC), the Council Unit of China-CEEC Think Tanks Network (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), a member of the Belt and Road Studies Network（Xinhua News Agency), and the Research Base of Global Public Opinion at China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.

As a new think tank, CABRI serves the initiatives of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, providing an extensive platform for international cooperation. The academy contributes to the CPC Central Committee, national ministries, and commissions as well as embassies along the route through many forms including BRI Research Notes, BRI Blue Books, BRI Forums and BRI Projects. CABRI has been ranked as a top 5 academy on BRI think tank research by the State Information Center, Nanjing University, and Guangming Daily for the past five years in row.

The research group of CABRI has carried out long-term studies in regional development, investment security, cultural diplomacy, language strategy and policy in countries and regions involved in the BRI. It has been running research projects such as "System Planning and Designing about Belt and Road Interconnection" (sponsored by the National Social Science Fund of China) and "Science and systems on Belt and Road" (sponsored by National Publication Fund of China) with influential outcomes in recent years.