Dear members of the WAAMA, distinguished experts, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. First of all, on behalf of the WAAMA, I would like to extend my warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the council members and guests attending today's meeting! At this very day twenty years ago, in order to develop the world's abacus and mental arithmetic, 39 organizations of abacus and mental arithmetic from 16 countries and regions gathered in Beijing, China, and established WAAMA. Today, we are holding the Fourth Enlarged Meeting of the Fifth Council of WAAMA and the International Academic Seminar on Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of WAAMA in the form of video conference to solemnly commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the association. Over the past 20 years, the WAAMA has been adhering to the tenet of "promoting abacus culture, strengthening exchanges and cooperation, spread and develop abacus and mental arithmetic in the world, focusing on the role of abacus and mental arithmetic education in enlightening wisdom and benefiting mankind". Especially on the basis of the pioneering work of the presidents including Mr. Chi Haibin, Mr. Eiji Katoh, Mr. Paula Bloomfield, Mr. Hwang Ho Jung, Mr. Yeh Tseng-Yi, Mr. Jeremy Ng. and Mr. Ronnie Chong, the WAAMA has made important achievements in all aspects.

In the past twenty years, the WAAMA has made remarkable achievements. We have opened our warm arms to welcome organizations and groups engaged in abacus and mental arithmetic from all over the world to join the association. The number of member units has increased to 54, injecting solidarity into the cause of abacus and mental arithmetic in the world. Over the past 20 years, we have held various conferences with high standards, held five general meetings and six international academic seminars on abacus and mental arithmetic education, with more standardized organizational construction and more distinct academic guidance. Over the past 20 years, we have carried out competition and appraisal with strict standards, held seven World Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competitions, promoted the new version of the special scheme of appraisal certificates, and vigorously improved abacus and mental arithmetic skills with the competition and appraisal as the starting point. Over the past 20 years, we have explored the cultural value of abacus in multiple dimensions, and Chinese Zhusuan has been successfully inscribed on the UNESCO list of representative works of intangible cultural heritage of mankind, injecting momentum into the cause of abacus. Over the past 20 years, we have improved member service, actively contacted members to contribute, updated the website in time, sent internal publications on time, and strived to promote new achievements in "experience sharing, information exchange and activity co-construction" among members.

History paves the road for reality and experience lights up the future. Looking back on our achievements, we will further sum up our experience, pioneer and innovate, carry out good ideas and good practices, and promote the long-term and healthy development of abacus and mental arithmetic in the world.

First, we will continue to adhere to theoretical research. Scientific research has shown that abacus and mental arithmetic education has a significant role in developing children's intellectual potential, and can effectively promote the improvement of children's attention, memory, observation and thinking ability. This is highly consistent with the evaluation of "an alternative knowledge system" given by UNESCO to Chinese Zhusuan, and is an important theoretical basis for guiding the inheritance and development of abacus. In the future, we will continue with scientific research, carry out extensive theoretical discussions, and continue to promote the transformation and application of scientific research achievements.

Second, we will constantly innovate ways of protection. Nowadays, the intangible cultural heritage of abacus is glowing with new vitality, which benefits from its positive educational value and profound cultural heritage, and also depends on the extensive development of various inheritance and protection. We will attach importance to and further play the role and value of academic seminars, competition and appraisal, teacher training and other protection work. At the same time, we will constantly create new ways to protect the intangible heritage of abacus, introduce new technologies and respond to new expectations with the help of new tools, so as to effectively help the cause of abacus spread widely and practice in depth.

Third, we will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in depth. By further strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, we can not only exchange experiences and learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses in the news reports of activities carried out by members, but also encourage all members of the WAAMA to build and share scientific research achievements and development experience, thus forming the synergy. It is hoped that all members will take the initiative to integrate and participate actively, and make good use of the international exchange platform of the WAAMA to better develop the world abacus and mental arithmetic.

Fourth, we will better serve our members. We insist on maintaining the equal relationship among the members of the WAAMA family, adhering to the principle of "seeking common ground through consultation and achieving success through cooperation", and working out methods, consensus, affections and unity through consultation. In the future, the WAAMA will continue to perform its duties, give full play to the role of bridge, broaden and intensify the channels of communication among its members, and constantly improve its ability to serve its members.

Standing at a new starting point, we have great potential. The WAAMA is celebrating its 20th anniversary today. On the basis of its achievements and experience, we are standing at a new historical starting point. Facing the future, we will further strengthen capacity building, make full use of all means, adhere to high quality, extensive participation, active innovation and meet the needs, and strive to form a series of brand activities to further enhance the international visibility and influence of the WAAMA. At the same time, we will further strengthen the system construction, strive to precipitate the advanced experience in carrying out various work into system guidance, further strengthen the demonstration and feasibility of various systems, and ensure the high-quality and efficient transformation of various work with standardized system requirements.

Dear delegates, as an old Chinese saying goes, "a good plan can be made by pooling the wisdom of all, and a great cause can be achieved by uniting the strength of all." I hope all of us can take the 20th anniversary of the founding of the WAAMA as an opportunity to further enhance the communication with the WAAMA, adhere to innovative, open and shared development, and strive to cultivate opportunities in the crisis and open up new situations in the changing situation, so that the WAAMA can better contribute to the long-term development of its members. I believe that as long as we work together and help each other, we will be able to achieve a better tomorrow for the cause of abacus and mental arithmetic!

Finally, I wish you good health and all the best!