In the midsummer of July, the green city of Zhengzhou witnessed the commencement of 2017 BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Network University Annual Conference and warmly welcomed the delegation. This international conference, jointly hosted by Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, The Education Department of Henan Province, and The Belt and Road Office of Henan Province, organized by NCWU, lasted for 3 days.

Heaven rewards the diligent. This was one of the BRICS Network University events NCWU took part in since it joined the BRICS Network University in 2015 and became a member of the BRICS University Alliance in 2016.

On the afternoon of July 1, education officials from the BRICS countries, leaders from 22 member universities of BRICS Network University, and the representatives of experts and scholars from other universities visited the Longzihu campus of NCWU, accompanied by Prof. Wang Tianze, Vice President of NCWU.

The delegation was deeply impressed by the pleasant environment of the Longzihu campus of NCWU. The rock core of Three Gorges Dam--the landmark of NCWU, transported from Three Gorges Dam, implies the commitment of NCWU to pursue development.  

After visiting the campus, the delegation went to the water training base of NCWU to watch the opening ceremony and "NCWU Cup" Rowing Challenge. There are 7 teams to participate in the competition, namely, Hong Kong Lingnan University Team, Peking University Alumni Team, Tsinghua University Alumni Team, Tianjin University of Science and Technology Team, Xi'an Jiaotong University Team, NCWU team, and Henan University of Economics and Law Team. Before the competition, Professor Liu Wenkai, President of NCWU, delivered a speech, and warmly welcomed the BRICS guests.

Rowing is an ancient and elegant group sports. This competition lasted for nearly two hours. Finally, the host of NCWU Fenghe Team won in the 4.9-kilometer Lake Race. Establishment in May 2015, Fenghe Team was the first rowing team during the colleges and universities of Henan Province. It has become a team of some renown since its establishment and gained some rewards in resent years.

It was reported that in the next two days of the conference, the BRICS delegation would engage in the dialogue and exchange on the theme of "Practical Cooperation and International Education", effectively promote cooperation and exchange among member universities, and jointly discuss the sustainable development strategy of BRICS Network University. The  conference included some different chapters of plenary session of the BRICS Network University Annual Conference, International Council meeting (IGB) of BRICS Network University, Round Table meeting of presidents of member universities, International Task Group meeting on priority cooperation fields (ITG), National Coordination Committee meeting (NCC), etc., focusing on  mutual recognition of credits among member universities, exchange and joint cultivation of students at the level of undergraduate and postgraduate, exchange of teachers, scientific research cooperation and other issues.

In addition, all the representatives would reach a series of multilateral and bilateral cooperation agreements by jointly signing the Charters of the International Management Board of BRICS Network University, BRICS Network University Action Plan of 2017-2018, Zhengzhou Consensus of BRICS Network University Annual Conference of 2017 and other important documents.

President Xi Jinping said, “the BRICS members are just like five fingers of a fist, each having his good points.” In the future, under the background of vigorously implementing the strategy of "enlivening school by open policy" and international development, NCWU will work hard together with the universities of BRICS countries on international education.