Based on the agricultural trade volume between China and the countries along the Belt and Road from 2001 to 2020, the virtual water volume was measured by combining the water footprint of the products with the existing research results, and the formula of water stress index was constructed to quantify the water resources and agricultural water stress of the countries along the Belt and Road. The spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of virtual water trade and its mechanism were analyzed, and the pressure of agricultural water shortage arising from the trade was discussed. The results show that changes in China ’s import and export virtual water resources were related to its national conditions and international events. The trend of importing virtual water resources was increasing, with more than 90% coming from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Mongolia and Russia, with green water accounting for about 80%. The trend of export virtual water resources was stable, with more than 80% exporting to Southeast Asia, West Asia and the Middle East, Mongolia and Russia, with green water accounting for about 70%. More than 1/3 of the countries along the Belt and Road are facing high and heavy water resources pressure, and more than 1/2 of the countries are facing high agricultural water pressure. Nearly 2/3 of the countries have reduced the pressure of agricultural water scarcity by importing virtual water resources from China. Nearly 1/3 of the countries have increased the pressure of agricultural water shortages by exporting virtual water resources to China.