The strategic pivot of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road refers to China's policy of bolstering bilateral trade, science and technology, and cultural cooperation between itself and the silk road countries. In recent years, a broad range of fruitful cooperation has become a reality between China and the silk road countries in constructing economic and trade cooperation zones and transportation infrastructure. But the outcomes can be improved by addressing unclear top-level planning, less than optimal spatial layout for projects, and lack of intensive multilevel engagement between China and its partners. This study aims to strengthen the strategic pivot around the basic goal of "five-links" by analyzing China's foreign trade data and identifies the key areas and construction modes of strategic pivot with AHP and Delphi methods. This paper also advances some policy recommendations for the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road such as enhancing economic and trade cooperation zone construction, scientific and cultural exchange, and regional and industrial cooperation.