Initiated in Beijing in April 2019, the Belt and Road Studies Network (BRSN) will be an open mechanism of academic exchange and cooperation. It will serve international think tanks, international and regional organizations and researchers, promote studies on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), share ideas and research findings, and encourage theoretical innovation, knowledge dissemination and personnel exchanges.

An Initiators council will be formed to discuss activities to facilitate and support BRSN cooperation projects. BRSN Secretariat will take care of BRSN operations, including organizing meetings and seminars, facilitating communications and spearheading global efforts to promote BRSN publications. The Xinhua Institute will host the secretariat. The intellectual property of all partners are respected. Any release or publication of research findings must be authorized.