To further increase cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation between countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, with the support and under the guidance of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China Arts and Entertainments Group (CAEG) proposed establishing the "Silk Road International League of Theatres" (SRILT) in October, 2016. All members in the league consent to the principle of "consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits". The league proactively engages in cultural and artistic development in the countries along the BRI, bringing new vitality to this ancient road. By September 2025, 188 members from 48 countries and regions have joined the league, among which 96 are overseas members and 92 are members from China (including 10 members from Hong Kong and Macao), covering the continents of Europe, America, Latin America, Asia and Africa. The SRILT has become a large global platform for performing arts exchanges and cooperation.

To improve the quality of artistic creation and international influence, the league invited Tang Muhai, a famous conductor, to be the artistic director of the SRILT Symphony Orchestra in March 2018. Giuseppe Acquaviva, artistic director of Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy, Zhang Guoli, a famous Chinese artist, and Charles Dutoit, a renowned Swiss conductor, were each appointed as artistic consultants of the SRILT. Besides, at the end of November 2020, the SRILT invited Tan Dun, a famous Chinese composer and conductor, to be an honorary art consultant and they accepted the invitation. In March 2023, the SRILT invited the famous singer Dai Yuqiang to be Adviser on Opera.

Led by CAEG and the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA), the SRILT actively promotes the global reach of outstanding Chinese performances to share Chinese culture and effectively tell China's stories to the world. Acting as a catalyst for integration, the league launches innovative cultural exchange programs across its membership at various levels. With an open and global perspective, the SRILT connects renowned international theaters, performing troupes, agencies, equipment manufacturers, and investors to facilitate market-oriented operations. Through this cross-industry and cross-border synergy, the league is building a comprehensive cultural industry chain to promote the prosperity and development of artistic institutions worldwide.