China to build 'Polar Silk Road' in Arctic: whitepaper

BEIJING - China's Belt and Road Initiative will bring opportunities for parties concerned to jointly build a "Polar Silk Road", and facilitate connectivity and sustainable economic and social development of the Arctic, said a whitepaper issued on Friday.

The document titled China's Arctic Policy by the State Council Information Office underscored that China has shared interests with Arctic States and a shared future with the rest of the world in the Arctic.

China's capital, technology, market, knowledge and experience is expected to play a major role in expanding the network of shipping routes in the Arctic and facilitating the economic and social progress of the coastal States along the routes, read the paper.

The document stressed that China's activities in the Arctic have expanded into areas including the platforms of global governance, regional cooperation, and bilateral and multilateral affairs, and such disciplines as scientific research, ecological environment, climate change, economic development, and cultural exchanges.

The whitepaper said, by the end of 2017, China has carried out eight scientific expeditions in the Arctic Ocean, and conducted research for 14 years with the Yellow River Station as the base.