Although China is not the country of origin of maize, it has become the largest maize production country in the world. Maize germplasm resources serve as strategic assets supporting the development of maize breeding and ensuring national food security. This paper reviews the historical contributions of maize germplasm resources to modern maize breeding and production in China, briefly introduces the conservation status of global maize germplasm resources and the introduction of such resources into China, and proposes strategies and priorities for future maize germplasm resource introduction. Special attention should be paid to regions where early domestication and dissemination of maize occurred, international research institutions preserving maize germplasm resources, and countries ranking at the forefront in terms of conservation quantity. The paper concludes that international exchanges and cooperation will be the primary pathways for promoting the introduction of maize germplasm resource in the future.