On the morning of December 3, 2021, the Release Ceremony of the China Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Development Report (2020) (hereinafter referred to as the Report) was held both online and offline in Beijing. Liu Jianhua, Chairwomen of Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (hereinafter referred to as CAMAA), attended the Release Ceremony. Liu Shangxi, President of Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences (hereinafter referred to as CAFS), attended the Release Ceremony and delivered a speech. Cheng Beiping, Executive Vice President of CAMAA, presided over the meeting.

Liu Shangxi extended warm congratulations on the successful publication of the Report. He pointed out that the official publication of the Report was conducive to reconstructing the discourse system of Chinese abacus skill in the new era, deepening the general public’s overall understanding of Chinese abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic, expanding social consensus, and exerting a positive guiding role; it was conducive to promoting the recovery of academic research in the field of abacus and mental arithmetic, promoting further theoretical research and academic discussions, and promoting academic prosperity; and it was also conducive to promoting the coordinated and orderly protection and education/teaching of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic, promoting the building and improvement of relevant standards in the process of protection, inheritance, development and innovation, and promoting the popularization and prosperity of abacus culture and abacus and mental arithmetic education in innovative development.

Liu Shangxi emphasized that, as a high-end national think tank, CAFS has always been committed to providing advice and suggestions on national governance, and providing intellectual support for national decision-making. In the process of actively building the three-subject system of finance, accounting as well as abacus and mental arithmetic, it is necessary to fully understand that abacus and mental arithmetic, as a new comprehensive interdisciplinary subject, has the dual attributes of natural science and social science, as well as the elements of cognitive science; also, it is necessary to form a correct view of history, culture and value, uphold the “people-oriented” concept, overcome the tendency of “technicism”, use a global and modern vision to deeply interpret and explore the Chinese wisdom, scientific mysteries and enlightenment treasures contained in it, build ecology and bolster areas of weakness, actively build abacus and mental arithmetic discipline system and talent training support system, promote the continuous inheritance and development of abacus science and culture, and reach a new level on the road of industry-university-research integration and innovation.

Wen Zhifang, Director of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Research Center of CAFS/Deputy Secretary-General of CAMAA, systematically introduced the purpose, meaning, content structure, and main features of compiling and publishing the Report. Wen Zhifang said that the compilation and publication of the Report were intended to comprehensively reflect the inheritance and development of abacus and mental arithmetic in China, summarize the achievements and experience of abacus and mental arithmetic, and better promote the continuous inheritance of Chinese abacus skill and the healthy development of abacus and mental arithmetic in China. In terms of content structure, the Report consists of three parts: The general report expounds the historical status, cultural heritage, scientific and educational progress and development direction of abacus and mental arithmetic on the whole; the sub-report made a comprehensive exposition from seven aspects, including academic research, teacher training, appraisal competition, teaching experiment, private education, intangible cultural heritage protection, and museum construction; the case chapter provides useful models for the broad practice of abacus and mental arithmetic education from different aspects such as mentally handicapped people, elderly people, curriculum experiments, rural education, and teacher education. As the first book to reflect the full picture of the inheritance and development of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic in China, the Report is comprehensive, systematic, data-based and informative, and it focuses on practice. It will become a good teacher and helpful friend for abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic workers, inheritors, educators and enthusiasts.

Guo Shirong, Vice President of CAMAA and Professor (Level II) of Inner Mongolia Normal University, made an expert comment titled Summarize Experience, Plan for the Future, and Promote the Creative Transformation and Innovative Development of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic. Guo Shirong said the Report was the result of careful organization, extensive investigation and comprehensive research. It is rich and comprehensive in content, reflecting the whole picture of the development of Chinese abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic. It not only summarizes the successful experience, but also analyzes the problems existing in the development, and makes a prospect for the future work. The general report outlines and plans future work in terms of strategic planning and overall layout, and also gives specific suggestions for some issues of overall importance. Each sub-report also puts forward important constructive suggestions for the future development. As one of the think tank series launched by CAFS, the Report has made an exemplary contribution to the active implementation of the requirements of the Excellent Traditional Chinese Culture Inheritance and Development Project. It is a typical case of promoting and inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and also a programmatic document to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of abacus and mental arithmetic in the future.

Guo Shuchun, Researcher of Institute for History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, made comments on the Report, which was read out by Liu Qinying, Deputy Secretary-General of Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association. The comments pointed out that the Report introduced several concepts related to abacus and to abacus and mental arithmetic, introduced the origin and development history of abacus and mental arithmetic, and put forward convincing practical research. The Report points out that abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic have irreplaceable scientific, cultural and educational values. They are not only a scientific calculation method, but also a good tool for developing the potential of the brain. The Report not only reviews the major achievements made in the cultural inheritance of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic with the great attention and strong support from the central government, the Ministry of Finance and education departments at all levels since the reform and opening up, but also looks ahead to the innovation and development path of abacus and mental arithmetic in contemporary times. It proposes to strengthen strategic planning and overall layout based on current situation and from a long-term view, and strives to build a new pattern of protection, inheritance and development of abacus and mental arithmetic that meets the requirements of the new era and has distinctive characteristics of the times; to carry out in-depth research and interpretation of abacus culture, and strive to explore and occupy the commanding heights of the academic research field of abacus and mental arithmetic; to continue to carry out scientific research, adjust the focus and direction of research appropriately, and focus on improving the practicality and applicability of the scientific innovation theory of abacus and mental arithmetic; to give full play to the promotion and synergy effects of relevant universities and vocational school, as well as education and training markets, and actively build a “united front” for the inheritance and development of abacus and mental arithmetic; to strive to improve the management level of the three important platforms of appraisal, competition and teachers; and to strengthen public opinion and international communication, and vigorously improve the public awareness and international influence of abacus and mental arithmetic. The Report puts forward the above six tasks, which provides important guidance for the protection, inheritance and development of abacus and mental arithmetic in an all-round way in the new era.

Cheng Beiping presided over the Release Ceremony and concluded that with the strong support and careful guidance of Chairwoman Liu Jianhua and President Liu Shangxi, and with the strong support of colleagues in the abacus community and members of CAMAA, CAFS organized experts to complete the compilation and publication of the Report in one year. This Report has filled in the absence of an authoritative industry development report in the abacus and mental arithmetic industry. It shows the real development status of China’s abacus and mental arithmetic industry, which is of great significance for decision-makers at all levels and institutions to grasp the overall development of the industry and make scientific decisions, and provides an authority reference for practitioners and enthusiasts of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic to understand the overall development of the industry. The Report points out that it is necessary to further accelerate the building of a lifelong education system for abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic, and guide the whole society to participate in the inheritance and protection of the intangible cultural heritage of abacus skill, enabling the cultural value, scientific value and modern educational value of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic to be fully manifested in the new era and to serve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The China Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Development Report (2020) is included in CAFS’s report list, aiming to display the research achievements of CAFS, expand the publicity and social effects of the scientific research results, and comprehensively enhance the influence of the think tanks of CAFS. The success of the release ceremony is not only the systematic sublimation of the theoretical knowledge of abacus skill and abacus and mental arithmetic, but also the wisdom of practical experience. Looking ahead, a new chapter will be opened for the creative transformation and innovative development of abacus and mental arithmetic!