The China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History is directly under Association of Returned Overseas Chinese of PRC. It is an academic institution and also the secretariat of China Society for Overseas Chinese History. Approved by the Chinese government, it was built in 1984 and named the Institute of Overseas Chinese. In 1990, it was renamed the China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History. Departments include an executive office, an office for research, an office for publication, a library, and 18 staff.  The first director was Hong Si Si who was a famous activist on the affairs of Overseas Chinese, and his deputies were Wu Le Hua and Li Ding Guo. At present, deputies are Fang Xiong Pu and Zhao Hong Ying.

             The China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History focuses on Overseas Chinese, which has the most practical significance and academic value, and lays particular emphasis on the issues of Overseas Chinese economics, their relations with China, contemporary Chinese new immigrants and students studying abroad. We also cooperate with Overseas Chinese affairs departments, particularly the China Association of Overseas Chinese, to encourage investigation and study on returned Overseas Chinese, returned students, and the social development of hometowns of Overseas Chinese, etc. In addition, the institute also works with the China Society for Overseas Chinese History to edit and publish an academic periodical (quarterly) Ethnic Chinese History Studies and a collection of historic records titled Newspaper and Magazine clippings on Ethnic Chinese (renamed Ethnic Chinese historic records in 1999.)

             The main achievements of the China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History are: American Ethnic Chinese History, Catalogue of Ethnic Chinese Materials, Research Collection of Ethnic Chinese, The world's Overseas Chinese Dictionary, Encyclopaedia of Ethnic Chinese, and so on. Our institute has also published Overseas Chinese Aviation History Stories (Fang Xiong Pu), Patriotic Feeling of Overseas Chinese (Chief editor, Li Ding Guo ), Overseas Chinese and the Anti-Japanese War (Huang Xiao Jian, Zhao Hong Ying, etc), Chinese Businessmen Evening Talk (Fang Xiong Pu), The Hakkas History Stories (Wu Qiu Yu, Huang Jing), Ethnic Chinese New Views (Chief editor: Chen Wen Shou), and Ethnic Chinese Economy Perspectives (Chief editor: Chen Wen Shou), etc.

             Along with building extensive relationships with academic institutions in Mainland China, the China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History has established academic relationships with scholars in the United States, Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. We have held international Overseas Chinese conferences, and also participated in conferences held in the United States, Singapore and the Philippines. We are doing our best to promote research on Overseas Chinese.

             The library of the China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History is one of the main Overseas Chinese material centers in Mainland China. There are more than 10,000 books and nearly 200 newspapers and periodicals. The most distinguishing feature of the library is its Overseas Chinese guild halls' anniversary issues and newsletters from Overseas Chinese hometowns.