On August 2, 2016, the China-ASEAN Engtech University Presidents Forum, organized by Northwestern Polytechnical University, Tianjin University, and ASEAN-China Center (ACC), and co-organized by Guizhou Institute of Technology, was held in Guiyang. Over a hundred representatives from more than 30 universities from China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) attended and discussed the challenges and opportunities of China-ASEAN higher education under “the Belt and Road Initiative”. The "Belt and Road” refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road policy of China. Attendees also included the Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Center Yang Xiuping, Director of SEAMEO RIHED Chantavit Sujatanond, the China Association of Higher Education President Qu Zhenyuan, Vice President of Northwestern Polytechnical University Zhang Weihong, and Party Secretary Zeng Yu of Guizhou Institute of Technology. The forum was chaired by Vice President Hu Wenping of Tianjin University.

During the forum, under “the Belt and Road Initiative”, the Opening-up Strategy for Higher Education, China-ASEAN Higher Education Connectivity: Resources Optimizing and Sharing through the University Alliance, and the Training Path and Strategy for Internationalized Applications for new Talent programs were discussed.

During the discussion on China-ASEAN Higher Education Connectivity: Resource Optimizing and Sharing through the University Alliance, Vice President Hu proposed that the China-ASEAN Engineering Science and Technology Institute be established, and for each member university to set up a sub-center involving different fields. Tianjin University plans to establish the China-ASEAN Marine Science and Technology Center under the frame of the proposed China-ASEAN Engineering Science and Technology Institute, and welcomes the involvement of universities from China and ASEAN.

Promoted by Tianjin University, under the Excellence Nine and Eight universities in ASEAN, ACNET-Engtech was established in 2014. Its permanent presidency and standing secretariat are located at Tianjin University. Northwestern Polytechnical University is the rotating chairman of ACNET-Engtech in 2016.