On April 10, 2025, the Second Meeting of the Sixth Council of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (hereinafter referred to as the WAAMA) and the Ninth Seminar for Academic Exchanges on Abacus and Mental Arithmetic was held in Beijing through a combination of online and on-site methods.
The President of the WAAMA, Ou Wenhan, delivered the work report on behalf of the 6th Council. He pointed out that in the year since the establishment of the 6th Council of the WAAMA, guided by the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, the WAAMA strictly adhere to the constitution, closely unite member units, and successfully completed the 6th General Assembly, 8th Seminar for Academic Exchanges on Abacus and Mental Arithmetic, 8th Competition of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic, Academic Exchange Meeting for Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Teachers, and 1st and 2nd Meetings of the Sixth Standing Council. Efforts have been made to inject new momentum into organizational construction, academic research, competition and appraisal, science popularization and publicity, effectively promoting the global dissemination and development of abacus and mental arithmetic. The next step for the WAAMA is to implement the 2025 work plan with a more open perspective, more practical measures, and more efficient services, practice the educational value of abacus and mental arithmetic on the path of scientific development, unite global members, and jointly promote the prosperity and development of the world abacus and mental arithmetic industry.
The meeting agreed by a show of hands to admit INDIAN ABACUS PVT. LTD., India as a Council Member unit of the WAAMA, and the International Cultural Exchange Center USA. INC., the United States as a Non-council Member unit; By a show of hands vote, it was agreed to add Jin Zhongying, President of the Australia Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Inc., and Shumeiko Elena, Director of AbacusMaths of Mental Arithmetic-AMMA, as Standing Council Members of the 6th Council of the WAAMA.
The Ninth Seminar for Academic Exchanges on Abacus and Mental Arithmetic was subsequently held. Mr. Alexander Kartono Taslim, Vice President of the WAAMA and CEO of SEMPOA SIP Indonesia, introduced the innovative development strategies of the unit in teaching methods and promotion; Mr. Basheer Ahamed. N, Chairman & Managing Director of INDIAN ABACUS PRIVATE LIMITED., India, introduced the positive impact of Slider Abacus Tool on children's visual memory and the popularization of abacus and mental arithmetic education in India; Ms. Yan Xiaoming, Director of the Research Center for Abacus and Mental Arithmetic, Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences, elaborated on the practical exploration and work prospects of Chinese Zhusuan (ICH) based on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
On the same day, the Third Meeting of the Sixth Standing Council of the WAAMA studied the 2025 work plan and the agenda for the Fourth Meeting of the Sixth Standing Council of the WAAMA to be held in Melbourne, Australia in September.
More than 80 directors and representatives from member units of the WAAMA attended the meeting.