Headquartered in Beijing, China Investment Corporation (CIC) was founded on 29 September 2007 as China's sovereign wealth fund incorporated in accordance with China's Company Law, with a registered capital of $200 billion. The company was established as a vehicle to diversify China's foreign exchange holdings and seek maximum returns for its shareholder within acceptable risk tolerance.

CIC has three subsidiaries, CIC International Co., Ltd. (CIC International), CIC Capital Corporation (CIC Capital) and Central Huijin Investment Ltd. (Central Huijin).

The overseas investment and management activities of CIC are undertaken by CIC International and CIC Capital. Both CIC International and CIC Capital are market-oriented commercial entities with a specialized mandate and global reach.
 

CIC International was established in September 2011. It conducts public equity and bond investments; hedge fund, multi-asset, and real estate investments; industry-wide private equity (including private credit) fund investments; co-investments; and minority investments as a financial investor.

CIC Capital was incorporated in January 2015 with a mandate to specialize in making direct investments to refine CIC's overall portfolio management. It makes direct investments, fund investments, and co-investments in sectors including infrastructure, resources and energy, manufacturing, health care, and agriculture, and manages bilateral and multilateral funds.

Central Huijin, makes equity investments in key state-owned financial institutions in China. Without interfering with the day-to-day operations of its investee institutions, Central Huijin exercises its shareholder rights and performs its obligations to the extent of its capital contribution, in order to preserve and enhance the value of state-owned financial assets.

Compliant operational firewalls exist between the overseas investments conducted by CIC International and CIC Capital and the domestic equity management undertaken by Central Huijin.

CIC has two overseas branches, CIC International (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.and CIC Representative Office in New York.