CIAR, as an International Centre of CAAS, links to the largest national agricultural research and innovation system in the world. China has 125,000 agricultural scientists and technicians, more than a million extension, 1278 national and local research Institutes, 62 Universities, 32 Provincial Academies, a vibrant private, commercialized sector in agriculture and agri-business made up of large, medium and small enterprises providing farm inputs, processing agricultural commodities, providing services in finance, logistics, marketing and information and a civil society sector made up of CSOs, NGOs and consumers. China exports 73 billion dollars of agricultural commodities and technologies and imports 112 billion from across the world.

CIAR, as a cross and multi-disciplinary platform will structurally support and promote Chinese international agricultural investment, and provide the necessary linkages between Chinese and Global agricultural research and innovation systems in sharing and exchanging information, knowledge, skills and technology and support as a think tank, capacity development platform and knowledge bank to solve through international cooperation, collaboration and partnerships critical issues in agricultural development globally. CIAR will also be the clearing house of agricultural research and innovation related information between China and the World.