A new energy frontier called 'Polar Silk Road'

Research and exploration in the Arctic are fundamental to understanding and tack-ling climate change issues. With the melting of Arctic ice, the polar region could provide an opportunity to better understand the effects of global warming.

The Arctic matters and, being a "near-Arctic state", China is fully engaged in its affairs. This is in stark contrast with the United States, an Arctic Council member, which has shown little interest in the region and the European Union, perhaps because it is not even an Arctic Council observer. China, by the way, is an Arctic Council observer.

The Arctic is of crucial importance, among other things, for the environment, trade, investment, energy and security. It is estimated to have a quarter of the world's oil and natural gas.