On July 15, 2020, the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) officially announced that Professor Yu Xueqing was elected as its President. Up till now, this is the first time that a nephrologist from mainland China has held the presidency of an international academic society, highlighting the status and influence of Chinese nephrology in the international academic community.

The 18th ISPD Annual Conference was scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in May 2020. However, it was postponed to July 15 as an online meeting due to COVID-19.  Professor Yu Xueqing was officially announced as President of ISPD on the meeting.

"It is my honor to take over the presidency of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. ISPD is one of the most influential nephrology societies in the world, with a mission to improve the health and well-being of patients with end-stage renal disease or acute kidney injury by strengthening support, research and education, increasing global awareness of peritoneal dialysis, promoting quality practice, and achieving optimal outcomes from peritoneal dialysis." Yu said. During the meeting, he expressed his gratitude to the former president, Professor David Johnson, for "the new vitality that Professor Johnson has given to ISPD over the past two years".

The appointment of Professor Yu Xueqing marks a step forward for Chinese nephrology to go global and lead the world, and an important demonstration of the international influence of Chinese scholars in the field of peritoneal dialysis. The experts present at the meeting believe that this Chinese experience will better serve doctors and kidney disease patients worldwide through the ISPD platform.

Professor Yu 's research team has always been focused on studying peritoneal dialysis, and has exerted a significant impact at home and abroad. The results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial led by Professor Yu, China Q Cohort Study: an Extended Follow-up Study of PD vs. HD Randomized Trial, have received much attention from the international PD community and are regarded as a milestone in peritoneal dialysis. His research team has established a world’s leading Peritoneal Dialysis Center to promote China’s successful experience in peritoneal dialysis to the world. The Center was hailed as the Guangzhou Model by Joanne Bargaman, former president of ISPD. In an interview by The Lancet in 2017, Professor Yu was described as a driving force in Chinese nephrology.