As the first international education institution established in China following China's reform and opening up, the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (the "Hopkins-Nanjing Center" or "HNC") was jointly established by two premier universities—Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University, when they signed a cooperation agreement in 1981. In 1982, the Vice Premiers of China's State Council, Fang Yi, Wan Li, Yao Yilin, and Ji Pengfei, signed and approved the agreement. In 1986, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center officially opened its doors.

Since its founding, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center has upheld the highest academic standards to educate future leaders with broad, global perspectives. Taking courses in international politics, economics, law, and environmental studies, students from different countries and cultural backgrounds live and study together in a multilingual and multicultural community dedicated to free and open academic exploration and intellectual dialogue. During its significant anniversaries, HNC has invited dignitaries to speak, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and, most recently, the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. During his congratulatory remarks for the occasion of the HNC's 35th anniversary, Mr. Ban reaffirmed  the importance of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center's mission, saying HNC is "one of the world's most celebrated graduate programs in international studies" that "serves an indispensable role in advancing essential academic and cultural exchange, forging the next generation of global leadership, and facilitating cooperation and partnerships."