Welcome

It is my pleasure and honor to invite you to the XXII^nd Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia, which will be held on November 20 - 23, 2011, in Taipei, Taiwan.
The Local Scientific Committee and the International Scientific Committee of the ISBT have collaborated to create a fascinating and up-to-date program in the field of transfusion medicine and stem cell transplantation, featuring plenary lectures, delivered by world recognized scientists, concurrent symposia on selected topics of interest, and poster presentations. Aside from the scientific program, an education program covering a wide range of interests will be
set up to give an overview and update of the current trends in Transfusion Medicine. In addition, social events such as the Welcome Reception, Gala Dinner and the post-congress tours offer many opportunities for networking.

Taiwan is located southeast of the coast of mainland China with an eastern shore that rims the Pacific Ocean. Continuous tectonic activity has created a mountainous landscape covering the eastern 2/3 of the island. The remaining
1/3 on the western edge is home to over 23 million people. Taiwan was given the name Formosa (meaning ‘beautiful’) by the Portuguese in the 16th century when they first laid eyes on it. Taiwan is also known for its industries, and is
one of the largest producers of Information Technology (IT) products, manufacturing over 60% of the world’s notebook computers. For the tourist, one will find a diverse experience from traditional folk customs, a rich culture, the bustling city life, to fantastic food. There are 6 National Parks in Taiwan, including Yangmingshan National Park in suburban Taipei famous for its volcanic landscape, Yushan National Park with the highest mountain in all of North Asia, and other natural wonders such as the canyons of Taroko Gorge.

Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan, located at the northern tip of the island on the Danshui River. Taipei originated as a small trading port over 200 years ago,
and is now home to over 2.6 million people. Tourist attractions include historic temples and cultural sites, the National Palace Museum, containing one of the world’s finest collection of Chinese art, and Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world until January 2010. Other popular destinations include Lungshan Temple, Huahsi night market, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, which also houses the National Theater and National Opera House in its large grounds. Few cities in the world can rival Taipei in dining out, with thousands of eateries for all tastes and budgets. Nearly all cuisines can be found here. Taiwan has endless shopping opportunities, delicacies, modern arts, hot springs, and some of the friendliest people in the world, guaranteed to make it an unforgettable experience.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Taipei, 2011.

Chien-Feng SUN
President of the Congress