For the fourth time, Prof. Annamaria Campanini, Immediate Past President of IASSW, had the privilege of participating in the International Symposium on Urban-Rural Integration, held in China, November 2025.

This year’s theme — “The Value, the Mission, and the Path of Social Work in the Integrated Development between Rural and Metropolitan Areas” — inspired rich discussions on how social work can build bridges between urban and rural contexts, fostering equity, inclusion, and sustainable community development.

Connecting with colleagues and researchers from across the world once again affirmed that social work plays a vital role in linking local realities with global challenges and in promoting balanced growth for all communities.