China urges scientific cooperation on climate change at Arctic Circle Assembly

Former vice-foreign minister Fu Ying called for greater international cooperation on scientific research and environmental protection in the Arctic, saying climate change, rather than imagined security threats, is the real challenge facing the region.

Fu was speaking during a discussion on Friday titled How to Understand China, which was held as part of the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, the largest annual international meeting about the Arctic, which this year was attended by more than 2,500 participants from more than 70 countries and regions, including heads of state and government, business leaders, scientists, and indigenous group representatives. Delegates discussed issues related to understanding, protecting, developing, and governing the Arctic.

Responding to so-called "China threat" narratives related to the Arctic, Fu said the real challenge currently facing the region is climate change, and that countries should devote more attention and resources to scientific research and environmental protection, rather than engaging in geopolitical competition over imagined security threats.

"Too much of today's geopolitical debate was built around imagined threats, which wastes valuable time and resources," she said. "Sea ice is melting, ice sheets are shrinking, and temperatures are rising. These are the real challenges that deserve attention."

She called on countries to pool their strengths and resources, enhance scientific research cooperation, jointly assess the challenges posed by climate change, and make early preparations.

Fu noted that a joint statement issued by the leaders of China and Iceland last year stressed stronger cooperation on climate change and green energy. Such practical cooperation can better demonstrate China's policies and intentions regarding its participation in Arctic affairs, she said.

Speaking about China's development and its international role, Fu said: "China has no intention of seeking global hegemony, nor does it believe the world needs another hegemon. China has pursued peaceful development, rather than relying on foreign wars, military conquest, or the expansion of its sphere of influence."

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries and promote a more just and equitable global governance system, she said.

Fu's comments followed a discussion organized by Tongji University earlier in the day, titled China-US Relations in the Arctic: Prospects for Cooperation.

During that discussion, Pan Min, a professor and deputy director of the Center for Polar and Oceanic Studies at Tongji University, expressed her take on the prospects for relations between the two sides, based on their dealings in the Arctic region, which she said was a pragmatic view, rather than an optimistic one.

"The Arctic should not be viewed solely as an arena for geopolitical rivalry," she told China Daily. "There are shared interests requiring international cooperation in areas such as climate change, scientific research, environmental protection, navigational safety, and emergency response. Cooperation does not preclude competition, nor do differences rule out collaboration … the key lies not in eliminating competition, but in preventing it from crowding out space for cooperation."

China has long stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges as a way of encouraging communication and she said the world of polar studies is an ideal arena to promote it.

"Interpersonal communication is crucial, especially given the current challenges facing China-US relations. Collaboration among scientists, scholars, and professionals can help both sides enhance understanding, reduce misconceptions, and build trust," she explained. "Even when the two governments hold differing views on certain issues, researchers can still cooperate on matters of shared concern, such as climate change, the marine environment, and polar science. Such exchanges not only advance specific projects but also create favorable conditions for higher-level dialogue.

"International relations are shaped not only by state policies but also by interpersonal trust; sustained, open communication serves as a vital foundation for managing differences and fostering cooperation."

Xinhua contributed to the story.