Xinhua Institute

The Xinhua Institute (新华社研究院) is the national high-end think tank controlled by Xinhua News Agency, China's state news agency. It was formally inaugurated on 28 October 2021. The Institute is tasked with building a national high-end think tank, conducting research on journalism theory and news operations, and studying media convergence. It coordinates nine sub-centers that carry out research work. The Institute's research scope covers domestic and international major issues, with a focus on forward-looking, strategic, and reserve research. It organizes the work of several research centers under the Xinhua national high-end think tank, including the Center for National Conditions and Strategy Studies, the World Issues Research Center, the Public Policy Research Center, the Communication Strategy Research Center, the Economic Research Center, the Public Opinion Research Center, the Grassroots Governance Research Center, the Reference Think Tank, and the China Enterprise Development Research Center, as well as the Academic Committee member units. As a media-type think tank—the only one among China's national high-end think tanks—the Xinhua Institute leverages Xinhua's global network to produce think tank reports as a vehicle for international communication. It also serves as the secretariat of the Council of the Belt and Road International Think Tank Cooperation Committee, which was jointly initiated in April 2019 by the Xinhua Institute and 15 Chinese and foreign think tanks. By the end of 2025, the committee had 146 member think tanks and experts. The Institute is active in hosting forums and dialogues, such as the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, the Global South Modernization Forum, and the Belt and Road international think tank cooperation forum. It publishes reports on topics ranging from Asia-Pacific community building and global governance to cultural heritage and ecological legislation. Its leadership includes Fu Hua as Director and Chief Expert of the Academic Committee, and Liu Gang as President and Party Secretary.

The Xinhua Institute was formally inaugurated on 28 October 2021 as the national high-end think tank of Xinhua News Agency. Its establishment was part of China's broader effort to develop high-end think tanks to serve central decision-making. The Institute was built upon Xinhua's existing research capabilities and was tasked with coordinating the research work of several specialized centers under the Xinhua national high-end think tank. Prior to the Institute's formal establishment, Xinhua had already been active in think tank cooperation. In April 2019, the Xinhua Institute (then operating as the think tank arm of Xinhua) joined with 15 Chinese and foreign think tanks to initiate the Belt and Road International Think Tank Cooperation Committee. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the committee's founding conference. The Institute serves as the secretariat of the committee's council and has worked to deepen academic exchanges, research, and translation of results among member think tanks. By the end of 2025, the committee had 146 member think tanks and experts. Since its establishment, the Institute has focused on policy research, conducting forward-looking, strategic, and reserve research on major domestic and international issues. It organizes the work of the National Conditions and Strategy Research Center, World Issues Research Center, Public Policy Research Center, Communication Strategy Research Center, Economic Research Center, Public Opinion Research Center, Grassroots Governance Research Center, Reference Think Tank, and China Enterprise Development Research Center, as well as the Academic Committee member units. As the only media-type think tank among China's national high-end think tanks, the Institute leverages Xinhua's global news gathering network to produce think tank reports for international communication. It has published numerous reports on topics such as Asia-Pacific community building, global governance, cultural heritage, and ecological legislation. It also conducts research on Marxist journalism views, systematically studying Xi Jinping's expositions on news and public opinion work, and has produced important works including "Studying Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on News and Public Opinion." The Institute is responsible for editing and publishing 《中国记者》 (Chinese Journalist) and other publications. The Institute actively engages in think tank diplomacy and international exchanges. It hosts and participates in forums such as the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, the Global South Modernization Forum, and the Belt and Road international think tank cooperation forum. It has sent delegations to countries such as Kyrgyzstan for think tank exchanges. In September 2026, the Asia-Pacific Media Forum was held in Guangdong, with Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department, attending the opening ceremony and delivering a keynote speech.

• Xinhua Institute and 15 Chinese and foreign think tanks jointly initiate the Belt and Road International Think Tank Cooperation Committee.

• Xinhua Institute is formally inaugurated.

• Belt and Road International Think Tank Cooperation Committee has 146 member think tanks and experts.

• Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in Guangdong, China.

• International experts visit Shenzhen to observe Chinese modernization practices.

National high-end think tank and media-type think tank of Xinhua News Agency, focusing on policy research, journalism studies, and international communication.

• Think tank reports

  Reports on policy, international relations, and social issues.

• 《中国记者》 (Chinese Journalist)

  A journalism journal edited and published by the Institute.

• Journalism research

  Research on news reporting, theory, and history.

1. 1新华社研究院xhinst.net
2. 2新闻史研究-新华社研究院xhinst.net
3. 3新华社研究院简介 - 新华社研究院xhinst.net
4. 4Xinhua Institute - Wikidatawikidata.org