Prof. Hisao Tajiri, WEO Past President, was invited to deliver a special lecture at the Digestive Cancer and Digestive Disease academic conference held at Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China, on 18–20 July 2025.
More than 300 experts from China and Japan attended this meeting which showcased 30 live endoscopic demonstrations. Latest advances were shared in more than 200 lectures, with topics covering digestive cancer (including rare and neuroendocrine tumors); diseases of the hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and autoimmune digestive systems; severe digestive and inflammatory bowel diseases; and digestive endoscopy. Additionally, the keynote presentation on fundamental research comprehensively described internationally leading academic achievements and groundbreaking advances.
About the Digestive Cancer and Digestive Disease conference
This conference on early digestive cancer has been held annually for 8 years by the Affiliated Hospital of the Zunyi Medical University of China and the Niigata Hospital of Japan. The strong cooperation between the gastroenterology departments of the two hospitals, built up since 2018, has led to the establishment of international cooperation in basic research, specialist training in early detection and treatment of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, and training courses in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)/ERCP.
Building upon this foundation, has given rise to the International Digestive Endoscopy Training Course of the Guizhou Gastroenterology International Science and Technology Cooperation Base, and saw the launch of the ‘Belt and Road’ Friendship International Digestive Endoscopy Academy Zunyi Training Program of the National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases (Guizhou Branch). This international training course was launched collaboratively with WEO and the Beijing Friendship Hospital. It will cover: early gastrointestinal cancer detection, EUS, ERCP, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), interventional endoscopy, and ultrasound vascular interventional techniques.
Simultaneously, the conference has established a Basic Research Forum, inviting over 300 distinguished scholars in gastroenterology from China and abroad. These experts have presented cutting-edge fundamental research and the latest breakthroughs, inspiring attendees to explore innovative approaches that bridge clinical practice and basic research. This initiative aims to strengthen the foundation of development in the field and drive high quality advancement.
Lecturers and topics included:
• Hisao Tajiri, WEO Past President: “Frontiers in gastrointestinal endoscopy: shallenges and innovations ahead”
• Enqiang Linghu, President, Chinese Society of Digestive Endoscopy: “Advances in super-minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancers”
• Jingyuan Fang, President-Elect, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology: “Gut microbiota modulates immunotherapy efficacy and immune-related adverse events in colorectal cancer”
• Zhendong Jin, President Elect, Chinese Society of Digestive Endoscopy: “Current status and development of digestive endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in China”
• Liya Zhou, Vice President, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology: “Recent advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection”
• Duowu Zou, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine: “ERCP in the treatment of pancreatic diseases”
• Jingnan Li, Peking Union Medical College Hospital: “Novel therapeutic targets and clinical evidence in Crohn's disease treatment”
• Ming Ji, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University: “Endoscopic trans-natural orifice gallbladder stone extraction”
• Pinghong Zhou, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University: “Minimally invasive endoscopic therapy: recent advances”
• Jie Chen, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center: “Overview of the 2025 ENETS Annual Conference”
• Zhaocai Zhou, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University: “Neural regulation of gastric cancer initiation and evolution”
• Xiong Ma, Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine: “Research advances in recompensation of decompensated liver cirrhosis”
• Xuemei Liu, Conference Chairman, and Director, Gastroenterology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University: “Focusing on SPEM pathogenesis, targeting novel markers for gastric cancer prevention, and establishing a comprehensive prevention system”
Professor Tajiri commented: “After six years apart, we reunite at this grand event today, and I am truly delighted to see the growing scale and vibrancy of the conference. The WEO is committed to fostering collaboration between regions such as Asia, Europe, and the Americas, with particularly active engagement with the Chinese Endoscopy Society. In the future, we will further deepen international exchanges. I sincerely wish this conference a complete success, and may it advance steadily and endure long!”
The Digestive Cancer and Digestive Disease academic conference, Zunyi 2025 was organized by the following:
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University.