With the theme "Education Connecting the World, Innovation Changing Our Life," the event was aimed to promote the cross-border communication between the education and science circles, as well as inspire young people's passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The conference set goals in advancing education in entire Asia. It brought together governmental officials, university presidents, scholars, members of world leading think tanks, foreign diplomats to China, leaders of international organizations, as well as leading figures from the fields of sci-tech, education, culture and economy. They probed into the topics on cooperation among think tanks, popularization of science, creativity and innovation of the youth, and the Internet+education.

There were five parallel sessions during the event, among which the Belt & Road University-based Think Tank Forum attracted lots of attention. At the 2016 annual conference, the Education Forum for Asia published an action plan on boosting the educational ties between China's central and western regions and the countries along the Belt and Road, and expanding the educational, sci-tech, economic and cultural relations among the B & R nations.