The Center for Northeast Asian Integration Studies  at the School of International of Peking University was founded in the context of increasingly active regional trade and investment, acceleration of economic integration, and extension of international cooperation on functional issues. CNAIS is funded by Asset Managers Co., Ltd. and its associate, the Haicheng Group Co. Ltd. of China.

The major sponsor of CNAIS, Mr. Ryoji Furukawa, is a well-known Japanese financier. He is the Chairman of the Board of Asset Managers Co., Ltd, President of Mita Economics Institute, NPO Corporation and also serves as the Deputy Director of the widely influential China Commission of the Japanese Association of Corporate Executives. After graduating from the Faculty of Law, Keio University, Mr. Furukawa has had a long career in asset securities and investment banking. He is the author of several books, including The Disappearance of the Yuan and the Yen and The Handbook of Asset Securitization.

Based on the academic research, CNAIS is to foster the engagement with various institutes such as government, financial institutes and academic organizations, integrates resources and improves the development of Asian regionalism. The tasks of CNAIS include selecting and designing research projects, organizing researchers from PKU and other universities to conduct those projects, advising government and social institutions, organizing workshops, and publishing research reports. The Director of CNAIS takes the overall responsibility under the leadership of the Board of Trustees. The President of CNAIS is Professor Wang Jisi, Dean of the School of International Studies. Mr. Furukawa is Vice President, and Professor Wang Zhengyi is Director.