Reliable population-based cancer survival data are essential for assessment of the effectiveness of cancer screening programs, distribution of cancer therapy and prevalent cancer cases. International comparisons are useful to allow societies, mass media and health authorities to gain a real appreciation of the cancer problem in their own country and provide an impetus to improve registration and cancer control planning. Since directly comparable survival data among East Asian countries are presently very limited, a comparative study on population-based cancer survival involving China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan, with Nepal as an observer, was proposed. At the 1st Working Group meeting in Tokyo on March 18th, 2009, it was decided to publish the present Commentary as a step towards realization of truly comparable cancer survival statistics in the region. Included are general information and quality of data of cancer registration at each participating registry and five-year relative survival rates of cancer of the stomach, colo-rectum, liver, lung, breast and cervix.