From June 26 to 27, 2021, the 2021 Annual Conference of Chinese Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (CSDE)and the 4th Esophageal Surgery Forum of West China Hospital, jointly sponsored by the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE), Chinese Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (CSDE), Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association (SCIMEA) and Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, co-organized by the Special Committee on Diseases of the Esophagus of SCIMEA and  West China Hospital, Sichuan University, was held successfully in Jinjiang Hotel in Chengdu. The two-day conference was mainly open for domestic and foreign experts in the field of esophageal diseases, as well as medical and nursing staff from major medical and scientific research organizations in Sichuan Province. Centering on the theme of “Focusing on Chinese patients' characteristics to optimize individualized treatment of esophageal cancer”, the experts and scholars, online or on-the-spot, expanded the depth and breadth of academic exchange through various conference forms including “expert lectures, case sharing and discussion, and online reports”.

(The scene of the conference)

The conference was packed with leaders and experts, including: Academician He Jie from Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Mark Ferguson from University of Chicago, Executive Director of ISDE, Prof. Liu Lunxu, Vice President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Prof. Chen Longqi, Vice President of SCIMEA and Director of Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Ms. Zhang Mengfan, Secretary General of SCIMEA, Prof. Liu Junfeng from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Prof. Tan Lijie from Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Prof. Han Yongtao from Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Prof. Zhang Renquan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Prof. Han Yuning from General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Prof. Du Ming from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Prof. Jiang Tao from Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Prof. Ma Jianqun from Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Prof. Lian Jianhong from Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Prof. Sun Wei from Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Prof. Mao Zhangfan from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and Prof. Yin Jun from Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, as well as nearly 100 well-known experts and scholars in the field of esophagus.

(Prof. Chen Longqi from the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University presides over the conference.)

The conference was presided over by Prof. Chen Longqi from the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. At the beginning, Academician He Jie from Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was connected via live stream to deliver a speech for this conference. During his speech, he stressed that since its establishment in 2015, the CSDE has been committed to improving the diagnosis & treatment and research of esophageal diseases in China. This conference has attracted many esophageal disease experts from home and abroad to discuss and share the latest advances in the treatment of esophageal diseases, and he hoped that the results of this year's conference will promote the communication and quality of treatment in the field of esophageal diseases in China.

(Academician He Jie from Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences delivers an opening speech.)

After that, Prof. Mark Ferguson from University of Chicago, Executive Director of ISDE was also connected via live stream to give a speech. He expressed his recognition of the achievements of esophageal surgery in China so far and his expectations for the future, and also reviewed the global research and treatment of esophageal cancer and shared his outlook on future development and opportunities. In addition, Prof. Mark Ferguson urged everyone to actively participate in ISDE's online meeting held this year and the upcoming meeting in Tokyo, Japan next year.

(Prof. Mark Ferguson from University of Chicago, Executive Director of ISDE delivers an opening speech.)

Prof. Liu Lunxu, Vice President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, delivered an opening speech as well. On behalf of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, he expressed his heartfelt congratulations on the successful convening of this conference. He noted, a large group of people in China suffers from esophageal diseases, especially the esophageal cancer. The new cases of esophageal cancer in China accounts for more than half of the global total, and the incidence rate in Sichuan is much higher than the national average, causing a heavy burden in this region. The MDT team mainly composed of members from the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital has been based on the current situation of high incidence of esophageal cancer in Sichuan, and participated in the development of a series of domestic and international standards of treatment in this field. The conference, adhering to the characteristics of international multidisciplinary exchange and fusion and innovation-driven development, will certainly give play to the value of this comprehensive exchange platform, and promote the overall improvement of all aspects of esophageal diseases in China.

(Prof. Liu Lunxu, Vice President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University delivers an opening speech（remarks）.)

Ms. Zhang Mengfan, Secretary General of SCIMEA, on behalf of SCIMEA, expressed her sincere gratitude to the experts and professors who attended the conference. Based on the strategic partnership between SCIMEA and CSDE, SCIMEA has been working with Prof. Chen Longqi and other esophageal disease experts since last year to carry out innovative cooperation in various forms, such as academic conferences, training, popular science livestreaming and short videos, etc. In 2021, SCIMEA passed the 5A-level social organization evaluation of the Department of Civil Affairs of Sichuan Province and set up several cooperation and exchange platforms.  SCIMEA is willing to work together with the experts to promote each other and contribute more to the development of Chinese medicine and the realization of the goal of a healthy China.

(Ms. Zhang Mengfan, Secretary General of SCIMEA delivers a speech.)

This event has achieved remarkable results, and all the experts will learn something, think something and achieve something through the abundant sharing of topics, and will also help to build a dynamic exchange platform in the field of esophageal cancer treatment and research, share the cutting-edge academic research results of esophageal cancer, and jointly promote the construction and development of the discipline of esophageal cancer in the future.