Alessandro Bonanno, president of the International Rural Sociology Association (IRSA), and Yoshio Kawamura, program chairman for the 2008 IRSA World Congress, paid a visit to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) on July 24. They met with Chung Ki-Whan, organizing committee chairman of the world congress, and Huh Jang, organizing secretary, to discuss the overall operation of the conference to be hosted by the Asian Rural Sociology Association at the KINTEX Convention Center in Goyang City, Korea. 

At the meeting, the two sides made a number of key decisions on ways to successfully hold the event slated for July 6~11, 2008. The discussed issues included the selection of keynote speakers, session itinerary, assistance for scholars in less developed countries, PR plans, and on-site study tours. 

During a dinner hosted by KREI President Choi Jung-Sup, the two presidents exchanged views and expressed their determination to work closely to make the conference a success.