Bangkok, Thailand, 24 February - 1 March 2002
A Congress for the World
Termchai Chainuvati, President of the World Congress of Gastroenterology, Bangkok, 2002
Greetings to all gastroenterologists, including medical gastroenterologists, surgical gastroenterologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, and gastrointestinal pathologists.
In Bangkok, we have been planning for this special World Congress of Gastroenterology for the past eight years. This international meeting of gastroenterology embraces all of the separate specialists who make up the critical mass of gastroenterologists throughout the world. There is no doubt that this meeting represents a gem in the jeweled crown of Thailand. We, the organizing committee, and the Queen of Thailand invite you to attend our quintessential scientific conference and revel in the exotic beauty of our land. We have worked hard to bring you two separate but intertwined aspects of the world congress of gastroenterology. These are, the highest standard of scientific endeavor and a vast and exciting social program, which reflects the culture and heritage of over seven hundred years of existence of Thailand.
The international program committee has met on several occasions over the past three years to develop and hone the scientific program with precision. We are sure that this will be a delightful treat for all who participate.
In addition, we have prepared a full social agenda to complement the scientific aspect of this meeting. We have beautiful islands and beaches and rain forests to explore before and after the meeting, and our country is considered to be a shopping paradise, which you and your accompanying persons can explore at a moments notice.
The social programs, which are part of the congress, include an opening ceremony on Sunday, February the twenty fourth and a Thai cultural night on Wednesday, February the twenty seventh. We will highlight the best of our cultural entertainment by presenting The Show of Dances, which are not ordinarily performed for tourists. On Thai cultural night, we will present the Mask Dance of fifty troupe, Pong Lang, a lively music and dance from the northeastern folks, Lai Ruer Fai, which light up the entire river with candles in the Queen's Garden, where we shall host our Thai Cultural Night.
The people of Thailand welcome the attendees with open arms to this superb scientific congress, and to our beautiful country.
