China Is an Important Force for Development in the Arctic
中国是促进北极发展的重要力量
Ambassador Jin Zhijian’s Signed Article Published on the Morgunblaðið
驻冰岛大使金智健在冰《晨报》发表署名文章
12 October 2019
2019年10月12日
In the past one year or so, with the new changes in the Arctic region, some people have been recklessly hyping up the so-called China’s influence or even “threat” in the Arctic region, with remarks in disregard of facts and full of Cold-War mentality. What does the Arctic mean to China? What are China’s principles and positions in Arctic affairs? What has China done in the Arctic region? I hope this article can provide the readers with preliminary answers.
近一年来，随着北极地区形势出现的新变化，部分人士肆意炒作所谓中国在北极地区的影响与威胁，其言论罔顾事实，充满冷战思维和色彩。北极对中国意味着什么？中国在北极事务上持何原则立场？中国在北极地区究竟做了哪些事情？希望此文能给予读者一个初步答案。
China has long been involved in the Arctic affairs. As early as in 1925, China joined the Spitsbergen Treaty. China is an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs. Geographically, China is a “Near-Arctic State”, one of the continental States that are closest to the Arctic Circle. The natural conditions of the Arctic and their changes have a direct impact on China’s climate system and ecological environment, and, in turn, on its economic interests in agriculture, forestry, fishery, marine industry and other sectors. China is also closely involved in the trans-regional and global issues in the Arctic, especially in such areas as climate change, environment, scientific research, utilization of shipping routes, resource exploration and exploitation, security, and global governance. These issues are vital to the existence and development of all countries and humanity, and directly affect the interests of non-Arctic States including China. China enjoys the freedom or rights of scientific research, navigation, overflight, fishing, laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and resource exploration and exploitation in the high seas and other relevant sea areas, and certain special areas in the Arctic Ocean, as stipulated in treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Spitsbergen Treaty, and general international law. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a contracting party to a series of international treaties on Arctic affairs, a major trading nation and energy consumer in the world, China shoulders great responsibilities of Arctic-related issues.
中国参与北极事务由来已久，早在1925年就已加入《斯匹次卑尔根群岛条约》。中国是北极事务的重要利益攸关方，中国在地缘上是“近北极国家”，是陆上最接近北极圈的国家之一。北极的自然状况及其变化对中国的气候系统、生态环境有着直接影响，进而关系到中国在农业、林业、渔业和海洋等领域的经济利益。同时中国与北极的跨区域和全球性问题息息相关，特别是北极的气候变化、环境、科研、航道利用、资源勘探与开发、安全、国际治理等问题，关系到世界各国和人类的共同生存与发展，与包括中国在内的北极域外国家的利益密不可分。中国在北冰洋公海、国际海底区域等海域和特定区域享有《联合国海洋法公约》、《斯匹次卑尔根群岛条约》等国际条约所规定的科研、航行、飞越、捕鱼、铺设海底电缆和管道、资源勘探与开发等自由或权利。作为联合国安理会常任理事国、一系列涉北极国际条约的缔约国、世界贸易大国和能源消费大国，中国对北极相关事务负有重要责任。
China is an active participant, builder and contributor in Arctic affairs. The Chinese government attaches great importance to Arctic Affairs and issued the white paper on China’s Arctic Policies in January 2018 for the first time, briefing the world on China’s relevant policies and positions. China’s policy goals on the Arctic are: to understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, so as to safeguard the common interests of all countries and the international community in the Arctic, and promote sustainable development of the Arctic.
中国是北极事务的积极参与者、建设者和贡献者。中国政府十分重视北极事务，2018年1月首次发表了《中国的北极政策》白皮书，向全世界系统阐述了中国的相关政策主张。中国的北极政策目标是认识北极、保护北极、利用北极和参与治理北极，维护各国和国际社会在北极的共同利益，推动北极的可持续发展。
In order to realize the above-mentioned policy goals, China participates in Arctic affairs in accordance with the four basic principles of “respect, cooperation, win-win result and sustainability”. These policies and positions have covered the main aspects of China’s participation in Arctic affairs, namely, scientific research, environmental protection, resource utilization, governance and international cooperation for peace and stability. These policies and positions embody China’s Arctic policy goals and basic principles in every specific area, and will serve as the guidelines for China’s participation in Arctic affairs in the future.
为了实现上述政策目标，中国本着“尊重、合作、共赢、可持续”四项基本原则参与北极事务，涵盖了中国参与北极事务的主要方面，即北极科研、环保、资源开发利用、治理和国际合作、和平稳定。这些政策主张是中国北极政策目标和基本原则在北极各领域的具体化，是今后一段时间中国参与北极各领域事务的指导方针。
On the basis of the above mentioned goals, principles and positions, for years China has organized a number of scientific expeditions in the Arctic, with its research vessel Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and the Arctic Yellow River Station built in 2014 in Ny Alesund in the Spitsbergen Archipelagoas as the platform. China has gradually established a multi-discipline observation system covering the sea, ice and snow, atmosphere, biological, and geological system of the Arctic. China follows the principles of the Paris Agreement by taking emission reduction measures to protect the ecosystem of the Arctic and has continuously participates in the research, protection and international cooperation on the Arctic species. In 2013, China became an accredited observer to the Arctic Council. China has conducted multi-level dialogue and cooperation in various fields with all the eight Arctic countries, and has been actively participating in several important international forums related to Arctic. In addition, Chinese companies have begun to explore and accumulate experience in the Arctic. In 2013, Yong Sheng Cargo ship of China Cosco has made its first voyage through Northeast sea route of the Arctic to its destination in Europe, which was regarded as a successful trial for the construction of Polar Silk Road.
基于上述目标、原则和主张，多年来中国以“雪龙”号科考船和2004年在斯匹次卑尔根群岛的新奥尔松地区建成的“中国北极黄河站”为平台，成功进行了多次北极科学考察，中国科学家在北极地区逐步建立起海洋、冰雪、大气、生物、地质等多学科观测体系。中国切实遵循《巴黎协定》原则，采取减排措施保护北极生态系统，持续参与北极物种的研究、保护与合作。2013年中国成为北极理事会正式观察员，与八个北极国家开展多领域多层次的对话与合作，并积极参与多个重要北极国际论坛。此外，中国企业也开始在北极地区不断探索、积累经验。2013年中远海运集团“永盛”轮商船首次经由北极东北航道成功抵达欧洲，为“冰上丝绸之路”的建设进行了有益尝试。
China and Iceland share common interests and similar positions in Arctic affairs. Both sides attach great importance to the adverse effects of climate change on the Arctic environment, ecology, fisheries, and local people’s lives. The two countries advocate strengthened environmental protection, sustainable development and international cooperation for peace and stability in the Arctic. China and Iceland have conducted good cooperation in Arctic related fields. In 2012, the two countries signed the Framework Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Iceland on Arctic Cooperation, which was the first inter-governmental agreement on Arctic issues between China and an Arctic State. China thanks Iceland for supporting China to become an accredited observer to the Arctic Council, and firmly supports Iceland in its job during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council. In October 2018, China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory, co-founded by the research institutes of the two countries, was officially opened and has become a new platform for exchanges among scientists from China, Iceland and the rest of the world. China fully recognizes the important role of Iceland in Arctic affairs and has successively participated in the Arctic Circle Assembly for many years. In May 2019, China and Iceland have successfully held China Forum of the Arctic Circle in Shanghai. The strengthened cooperation between the two countries in Arctic affairs has benefited not only China and Iceland but also the whole world.
中冰两国在北极事务中有着共同利益和相似立场，双方均重视气候变化对北极环境、生态、渔业、当地人生活等带来的不利影响，均主张加强该地区环境保护，实现可持续发展，国际社会应加强合作维护该地区和平与稳定。两国在相关领域开展了良好合作。2012年，中冰签署了《中华人民共和国政府与冰岛共和国政府关于北极合作的框架协议》，这是中国与北极国家缔结的首份北极领域专门协议。中方感谢冰方支持中国成为北极理事会观察员国，坚定支持冰岛担任北极理事会轮值主席国工作。2018年10月，中冰两国研究机构合作建成的中国-冰岛北极科学考察站正式启用，为包括中冰科学家在内的世界各国科学家开展交流提供了新平台。中国高度重视冰岛在北极事务中的重要作用，连续参加了历届北极圈论坛大会，2019年5月中冰双方共同在上海成功主办了北极圈论坛中国分论坛。中冰双方在北极事务中的合作不断深入，惠及两国与世界。
The future of the Arctic concerns the interests of the Arctic States, the wellbeing of non-Arctic States and that of the humanity as a whole. As a responsible major country, China does not want to see tensions or establish spheres of influence in the Arctic. China is willing to work together with Iceland and other relevant countries to actively address challenges related to Arctic such as climate change and environmental protection, so as to make contribution to the peace, stability and sustainable development in the Arctic.
北极的未来关乎北极国家的利益，关乎北极域外国家和全人类的福祉。作为负责任的大国，中国不愿看到北极地区局势紧张，不想在北极地区构建势力范围，愿与包括冰岛在内的有关国家一道努力，积极应对与北极相关的气候变化、环境保护等各种挑战，为北极的和平稳定和可持续发展作出贡献。