New ship to boost Arctic expeditions

BEIJING - China is accelerating its pace in exploring the North Pole with two Arctic expeditions planned before 2015, according to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.

Climate and environmental changes in the Arctic have a direct and immediate impact on China, so Chinese scientists pay a lot of attention to Arctic research, a senior official with the administration, who declined to be named, told China Daily.

Take the recent cold winter in China for example. It is partially caused by the high Arctic pressure, said Wang Qiyi, senior engineer of the National Climate Center.