The Project of Research and Development International (RDI) was launched in April 2015 to promote BRI research and practice. By far, it has established a well-structured think tank network, an international network and a corporate network.。

RDI’s think tank network has brought together experts and scholars from various fields such as enterprises at home and abroad, think tanks and industry associations. It has given suggestion to the central and local governments by developing high-quality reports based on in-depth studies and surveys. Its reports and policy suggestions have been effectively converted into policies and measures by relevant Ministries, Commissions and local governments, which has provided significant guidance to the Chinese enterprises’ “Going Global” strategy.

RDI’s international network has formed a service system integrating political parties, governments, parliaments /NPC, think tanks, enterprises, financial institutions, social organizations, media and international multilateral/bilateral organizations and other strategic partners and supporting organizations at home and abroad. It has made “China’s Voice” heard in major international occasions and built important platforms for Chinese enterprises to launch international cooperation.

RDI’s corporate network has integrated many backbone enterprises or institutions in multiple sectors, including energy, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, information, service, culture, logistics, infrastructure, pharmaceutical, real estate, finance, park, mining, chamber of commerce, training. By establishing seven service teams (i.e. legal service, policy research, technological standard, information service, financial support, culture and brand, and capacity building), RDI has allocated government, enterprise and industry resources to help enterprises to go global. RDI has provided systematic services and support for enterprises to engage in the “Belt and Road” development.

RDI has gained recognition from relevant institutions at home and aboard. “China Analysis - A Hundred Think Tanks Blooming in China”, a research report released by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in August 2016 sets RDI as an example for building China’s new think tanks and states that “RDI has established systematic mechanisms for dialogues, exchanges and cooperation.” RDI was selected as the 2016 “Excellent Think Tank for the Belt and Road Initiative” through a systematic and open information analysis by the Belt and Road 100 (B&R 100) at the end of December 2016. It was granted “Hilal-i-Imtiaz” Pakistan Civil Award by H.E. President of Pakistan Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi in 2019.