The Chinese Society of Asian and African Studies (CSAAS) is one of the earliest academic societies established in China to study international issues. The preparatory work of the institute began in 1958, and the preparatory committee was established in 1959 with Guo Moruo as the director and Zhou Yang, Bao Erhan, Chu Tunan and Wu Han as the deputy directors. Under the solicitude of the late Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Chen Yi, the CSAAS was founded in Beijing on April 19, 1962. The congress adopted the "general rules of the CSAAS" and elected the council of the society, with Zhou Yang as the first President and Hu Yuzhi, Bao Erhan, Chu Tunan and Wu Han as vice presidents. The CSAAS has held eight sessions of member congresses. The presidents of the second to eighth sessions of the council are Huan Xiang, Ji Xianlin, Ji Xianlin (reelected), Li Chengren, Liu Guijin, Zhang Hongming and Li Xinfeng.

The aim of the CSAAS is to promote the political, economic, cultural, religious and social studies in Asia and Africa countries, and to carry out active academic exchanges. Since its establishment, the institute has mainly carried out its work in the following five aspects: (1) to establish the news of the CSAAS, which introduce the activities and research of members, publish the academic achievements of scholars both home and abroad, exchange the dynamics and information of Asian-African studies, and report the work of the association. (2) to organize academic seminars. (3) to hold seminars or symposiums. (4) to carry out international academic exchanges. (5) to compile and print academic proceedings. In recent years, in line with the development of the situation and the needs of its work, the CSAAS has gradually shifted its focus and research areas to west Asia and Africa, and has successfully organized and held more than 20 influential academic seminars and reports.