China Foreign Affairs University has been included in the country’s construction plan of world-class universities and first-class disciplines. The plan is also known as the "Double First-Class" initiative.

The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly released a selected list of universities and colleges on September 21, 2017. China Foreign Affairs University ranks among the top 95 disciplines in the country, according to the list.

The Party and the State have entrusted China Foreign Affairs University with an honorable mission to build itself into a university with world-class disciplines. CFAU will forge ahead in constructing the first-class disciplines of International Relations and Diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. It will also continue to promote the all-round development of the disciplines it offers and make new contributions to the development of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.