Quotable

The mission has reinforced Chinese scientists' understanding of the Arctic. It is of strategic importance in elevating the country's participation in Arctic affairs."

QU TANZHOU, head of China's sixth Arctic expeditionary team, speaking aboard the icebreaker Xuelong, or "Snow Dragon," which returned to its home port of Shanghai on Monday after a two-and-a-half-month mission. The vessel left Shanghai on July 11 and has traveled about 22,000 km to explore areas in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and Canada Basin. Scientists studied geomagnetic data and the receding Arctic ice and carried out research on how the Arctic's atmosphere, currents and ice interact, said Pan Zengdi, the expedition's chief scientist.