Xi’an International Studies University (XISU), formerly known as the Northwest Russian Junior College, was established in 1951 with the approval of the Ministry of Education of China. It began to enroll students in 1952 and was renamed Xi 'an International Studies College in 1958. In its early years, the university was assisted by some foreign experts, such as those of the Soviet Union. In 1979, the university began to train graduate students. In 1986, it was approved as a nationally accredited institution offering Master’s degree programs.

At the beginning of reform and opening up, XISU took the lead in developing international cooperation and exchanges with foreign (overseas) universities in the Northwest of China. Entering the 21st century, with China's accession to the WTO, the international cooperation and exchange of the College has further developed. In 2006, the school was renamed Xi 'an International Studies University. In 2013, the university was granted the right to confer a level-one doctoral degree program in Foreign Languages and Literatures. In 2014, the university set up a postdoctoral research station. After 66 years of dedication, XISU, with distinctive features in foreign language education and humanities and social sciences research, now offers a diverse mix of 7 major disciplines in the fields of literature and language, economics, management, law, education, science and arts.

Our international cooperation and exchanges have developed from small to large and weak to strong. We have now established partnerships with 262 universities and scientific institutions in 48 countries and regions including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Russia, by which we work closely on joint-training undergraduate, master and doctoral programs. Student and faculty exchange programs, mutual recognition of credits, joint organization of international conferences and visiting programs to the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Hong Kong have been introduced and carried out.

XISU has been successively listed as the designated institution for Fulbright Program of the China Scholarship Council and the cooperative institution for the Overseas Study Program for Young Faculty and the International Exchange Program for Outstanding Undergraduates. The university is a training unit for overseas students with Chinese government scholarships and Confucius Institute scholarships approved by the MOE, and the only certified HSK and HSKK test center in Northwest China. XISU has actively responded to the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI), established 9 BRI research centers on country-specific studies, and authorized to offer a joint-degree undergraduate program for students majoring in Arabic language and literature with University of Sharjah in UAE. Founded 3 overseas Confucius Institutes in Kazakhstan, Argentina and France, the university has been honored with the title of “Excellent executive body of the Chinese side” by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters), Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government and educational authorities.

In 2012, the Multi-language Base in Xi'an of the International Promotion of Chinese Language was approved to establish in XISU by Hanban. In addition, XISU sets up ACCA, CIMA and CFA educational reform classes by working with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; it builds a Russian Language and Culture Center with the support of Novosibirsk National Technical University in Russia and a Sino-German School with Minster University in Germany. Also, the Korean Academy of Culture, Goethe College of Germany and Pucheng English Group of the United States set up “Shizong School”, “Goethe Language Center” and “Susan Qin English Center” in XISU respectively. Furthermore, XISU establishes the Training Department for Candidates to Study Overseas, China Scholarship Council for Preparatory Education and Training Base of China (Ministry of Education) Service Center for Candidates to Study Overseas. XISU has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Province, assisted the Ministry of Education and the Provincial Department of Education with the CICA College Students’ Art Festival, the 4th Silk Road International Fair and the Silk Road Educational Cooperation and Exchange Meeting, and helped to receive French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets and Pakistan's former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. XISU strives to create a “signature card” for Shaanxi in foreign cooperation and exchange.