On May 19, the signing ceremony for the strategic cooperation between Chinese Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (CSDE) and Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association (SCIMEA) was held in SCIMEA. Professor Chen Longqi, director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and the first chairman of CSDE, and Zhang Mengfan, Secretary-General of SCIMEA attended the signing ceremony.

The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) was established in 1979. Presently it is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Its official journal is Diseases of the Esophagus (SCI impact factor: 2.323). There are currently three Chinese scholars working in the magazine. Professor Chen Longqi of West China Hospital serves as associate editor, Professor Simon Law of Queen Mary Hospital of the University of Hong Kong and Professor Chen Haiquan of Shanghai Fudan University Cancer Hospital serve as surgical editors. As of today, ISDE has developed into an international multidisciplinary academic organization for esophageal diseases, with members of wide range of professions from all continents except Antarctica,  such as surgeons, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, microscope doctor, radiologist, oncologist, pediatrician, pathologist, basic researcher, etc. ISDE has been long devoted to scientific research and the exchange and dissemination of medical knowledge in esophageal diseases, promotion of basic and clinical studies on esophageal diseases, and support to the training of young physicians. It is the most authoritative international academic organization in esophageal diseases.

On September 20, 2015, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University held a membership meeting to formally establish the Chinese Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (CSDE), becoming one of the only two organizations under ISDE (The other is the European Society of Esophageal Diseases), top esophageal experts including president and vice president of ISDE from the United States, Europe and Japan attended the meeting. Professor Chen Longqi from West China Hospital of Sichuan University was elected as the first president of CSDE.

Professor Chen Longqi, director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the first president of CSDE said that CSDE is a professional esophageal disease organization covering Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, and all its members are leaders of their respective fields. The Society aims to become a professional academic organization for esophageal diseases that spans surgery, internal medicine, oncology, pathology, endoscopy, radiation, otolaryngology, pediatrics, and basic scientific research. Its cooperation with SCIMEA can play a positive role in promoting esophageal disease treatment in China, acquiring international advanced medical knowledge and service concepts, promoting medical exchange, helping the growth of outstanding domestic doctors, and improving China's international reputation in this field.

Zhang Mengfan, Secretary-General of SCIMEA, said that SCIMEA will use this meeting as a starting point, give full play to its advantages, integrate different resources through more interacts and communications, develop access to overseas medical centers, help young Chinese experts for overseas study, invite overseas experts for visit to and exchange in China, help the career of young and middle-aged doctors, and build a platform focused on the promotion and exchange of young and middle-aged people.