Greetings, everyone!

The 13^th International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) Annual Conference will be held at the Fengda International Hotel in Hefei, Anhui Province,from September 6th to 8th, 2024. This conference is hosted by the Guangdong Medical Association and the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU), and co-organized by the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. The conference has invited renowned experts and scholars from both China and abroad to give special academic lectures and discussions on hot and difficult issues in the basic research, clinical treatment, and prevention of urinary stones. For the first time, this conference has set up three sub-venues: the PCNL Section Meeting, SWL & Basic Research Section Meeting, and Ureteroscopy & RIRS Section Meeting, as well as a special session for the demonstration of new minimally invasive surgical techniques. This has provided a rich and colorful academic exchange platform for urologists from both China and abroad.

Urinary stones are one of the most common diseases in urology worldwide, particularly in economically underdeveloped countries and regions where not only are incidence rates high, but the level of treatment and prevention also requires further enhancement. In response to this situation, in 2012, Professor Ye Zhangqun, then Director of the Urology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Professor Zeng Guohua, Vice President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and Professor Kemal Sarica, a renowned international urolithiasis expert and head of the Stone Group of the European Association of Urology, jointly advocated for the establishment of the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) in September 2012. Since its inception in 2012, the IAU has grown to a total membership of 939 members from 115 countries, including 44 countries in Asia, 8 in North America, and 24 in Africa. (Statistics as of July 17, 2024)

Since its establishment, the IAU has held regular international academic conferences on urolithiasis every year. To date, it has organized twelve large-scale international annual academic meetings in various locations such as Guangzhou, Nepal, Nanning, Guiyang, India, Shaoxing, Turkey, and London, with each event attracting approximately 300 to 1000 participants. The IAU academic annual meeting has become a flagship international conference in the field of urolithiasis. Through these conferences, both domestic and international urologists engage in comprehensive academic exchanges through expert forums, abstract presentations, complex case discussions, and surgical demonstrations, enhancing professional skills and promoting the proud achievements and pioneering spirit of China in the field of urinary stones.

With the arrival of the golden autumn in September, we are excited to extend an invitation to urologists worldwide to come together for the 13th Annual Academic Conference of the International Alliance of Urolithiasis. In this season of harvest, we anticipate not only the bountiful academic outcomes but also the opportunity to engage in discussions and share the latest developments and valuable insights in the field of urolithiasis with peers from around the globe.

Hefei, as the capital of Anhui Province in China, is an ancient city with a history spanning more than 2000 years. It offers a unique geographical advantage and a modern cityscape, making it an ideal setting for academic exchange for this conference. We eagerly anticipate your presence in Hefei to jointly embark on an academic journey brimming with wisdom and friendship. Welcome to Hefei!

August 20, 2024