Zhejiang Cancer Hospital (ZJCH) in China and Japan’s Shizuoka Cancer Center (SCC) have solidified a major collaboration to accelerate innovation in cancer research and treatment. The two institutions signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 28 during a ceremony in Shizuoka, Japan, marking a strategic push to address global cancer challenges through shared expertise.
ZJCH’s President Cheng Xiangdong and SCC’s President Katsuhiko Uesaka spearheaded the agreement, which targets advancements in academic exchanges, joint research initiatives, talents cultivation, resource sharing. Both leaders emphasized the urgency of international cooperation in oncology. “This MoU reflects our commitment to saving lives beyond borders,” stated Uesaka, praising the eight-month negotiation process as a testament to mutual trust. Cheng echoed the sentiment, noting, “By combining our strengths, we can redefine cancer care standards.”
Post-ceremony, ZJCH delegates toured SCC’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its proton therapy center, day chemotherapy unit and palliative care wards. Technical teams from both hospitals held closed-door talks to fast-track collaborative projects.
The collaboration gained further momentum on March 1 at the 2024 Shizuoka Cancer Conference, where President Cheng delivered a keynote speech spotlighting China’s rapid adoption of AI in oncology. His address, titled “From Screening to Precision Therapy: How China is Harnessing AI to Transform Cancer Care,” detailed ZJCH’s breakthroughs in machine learning for tumor analysis and ignited discussions among global experts about scaling AI solutions to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
This collaboration coincides with the 43rd anniversary of sister-province relations between Zhejiang and Shizuoka. Building on the renewed Zhejiang-Shizuoka Healthcare Cooperation Agreement (2022) between the two regions’ health authorities, the MoU addresses a critical gap in cancer-specific partnerships. Officials highlighted that the initiative will amplify the impact of cross-border medical diplomacy, contributing to global cancer control efforts while strengthening Zhejiang-Shizuoka ties.