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Forum highlights Arctic development
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Scholars from the Nordic states, Russia and Canada joined their peers from China late last month at the 3rd China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium. At this forum, jointly hosted by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC), a wide range of Actic topics were discussed.
China’s involvement in Arctic matters took a new turn in 2013 when it became a permanent observer on the Arctic Council. At this symposium, participants examined the the conditions in which China could take part in Arctic governance and navigation.
Professor Su Ping from Tongji University’s School of Politics and International Relations said China seeks to develop an Arctic policy based on scientific research and partnerships. Zhang Xia, head of the PRIC’s Division of Polar Strategic Studies, explained that globalization and climate change are strengthening ties between the Arctic region and the rest of world.
Arild Moe, senior research fellow and acting director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway, said the Russian government has actively promoted the Northern Sea Route for international traffic. This route can dramatically cut the maritime travel distance between Europe and Shanghai.
Moe also mentioned that a great degree of uncertainty remain regarding the longer term development of the sea route, even though the conditions for sailing are improving. He further explained that policies in the region have been inconsistent at times because of the large investment commitments required to build shipping architecture and maintain icebreaker fleets.
Pierre Pochard, a representative of the Norwegian certification body DNV GL, predicted that the dynamics of maritime transport in the Arctic will further change as Russia begins exporting oil and gas derived from the region. Pochard also pointed out the economic opportunities which such developments are creating for, among others, Chinese enterprises.
“The Yamal gas plants and the port of Sabetta, scheduled for completion in 2016, will be accommodating large ice-class gas carriers that will transport liquefied natural gas to the East and West via the sea route,” Pochard said. “Chinese shipyards and shipping companies are already taking part in the Yamal project.”
More navigable
“The project is also creating new opportunities for Nordic countries which have experience, knowledge and the latest technologies for operating in the Arctic,” he added.
Dr Cheng Baozhi from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies noted that the acceleration of global warming and the retreat of the polar ice caps is making the Northern Sea Route more navigable than ever before. The opening of this “shortcut” is of particular importance for east Asian nations like China, Japan and South Korea given their reliance on imported energy commodities.
“In the near future, realistic areas of cooperation between east Asian countries include ship building, satellite monitoring, port construction and search and rescue training,” Cheng concluded.
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