This Day, That Year

China Daily | Updated: 2018-07-02 07:26

In July 1999, China sent its first scientific research cruise to the Arctic Ocean with 60 scientists aboard Xuelong, the country's only icebreaker. A photo in China Daily showed the vessel heading for the Bering Sea.

Since then, the country has made remarkable progress in North Pole exploration. It has conducted eight Arctic expeditions since 1999. In 2012, Xuelong became the first Chinese vessel to traverse the Northeast Passage.

Last year, the country made plans to conduct scientific expeditions annually. The ninth expedition will embark later this month.

In 1996, China joined the International Arctic Science Committee, and in 2003 the Polar Research Institute in Shanghai established the country's first Yellow River Station at Svalbard, Norway.

In January, China released its first official Arctic policy white paper, in which it revealed plans to encourage companies to build infrastructure and conduct commercial trial voyages with the goal of building a "Polar Silk Road".

As a result of global warming, the Arctic shipping routes, with three passages, are likely to become important transportation routes for international trade, the white paper said. They are the shortest maritime routes connecting northeast Asia with Europe and North America.

To further explore the North Pole, China has begun building its first polar expedition vessel. Construction of the 104.4-meter ship, equipped with an advanced electric propulsion and control system for navigating sea ice, is expected to be completed by August next year.