On December 17, 2016, the Center for Chinese Think Tank Studies and Evaluation (CCTTSE) of Nanjing University and Research and Distribution Center for Think Tanks of Guangming Daily jointly published Chinese Think Tank Index (2017-2018) (CTTI), in which the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University was selected as the first-batch think tanks of the index.

The CTTI is the first vertical search engine and data management platform for think tanks in China, launched by the CCTTSE of Nanjing University and Research and Distribution Center for Think Tanks of Guangming Daily. Think tanks listed was examined by an evaluation committee constituted by experts from think tank management departments, think tank leaders, research experts and senior media experts.