Arctic experts from Russia and China focus on strategic cooperation

The event participants were greeted by Professor Kirill Chistyakov, Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society and Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences at St Petersburg University. Professor Chistyakov recalled over 300 years of Arctic exploration and research in Russia and at St Petersburg University in particular. ‘Finding solutions to the challenges of Arctic exploration and economic development is of the utmost importance for the world community. The sustainable use of the Arctic’s rich natural resources will be unattainable without a comprehensive science-based cooperation at different levels of intergovernmental contacts, development of technologies for sustainable environmental management, and efficient transportation and logistics systems’, stressed Professor Chistyakov. ‘I hope this meeting will provide the opportunity to generate new ideas for high-potential Russia-China projects in research and education.’

The conference was organised jointly by: the Ocean University of China (Qingdao); the Secretariat of the Northern Forum; and the State Research Navigation-Hydrographic Institute (GNINGI).

Within the framework of two panel sessions, researchers from Russia and China discussed: the principles of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the BRICS countries, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO); the strategic importance and development potential of the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic ports; the Arctic Council’s activities in the new conditions; and strategic cooperation in education, research and socio-environmental issues. The panellists discussed the prerequisites for modifications to the areas of cooperation between the two countries in the mining of rare-earth elements in the Arctic. Professor Sergei Belozerov, Head of the Department of Risk Management and Insurance at St Petersburg University, and Elena Sokolovskaia, Leading Research Associate in the Laboratory of Asian Economic Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Risk Management and Insurance at St Petersburg University, explored the current state of this part of the global market and its key players. They analysed in detail the latest policy changes in this area, including the EU’s energy policy seeking to limit the use of Russian energy resources and their plans to reduce reliance on China for rare earth metals. Sergei Belozerov and Elena Sokolovskaia drew special attention to the current changes in China’s strategy in rare-earth metal mining and exports and the imperative need for the development of high-tech industries in Russia in the context of economic sanctions.

Vladimir Petrovskii, Full Member of the Academy of Military Sciences and Chief Research Associate at the Centre "Russia, China and the World" at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, focused on the challenges and prospects for the Polar Silk Road. To create attractive terms for international vessels, Vladimir Petrovskii recommended modernising and expanding the icebreaker fleet; generating accurate and detailed maps and navigation charts of the Northern Sea Route water area; and deploying an extensive network of ground-based weather stations, in parallel with satellite-based Arctic climate monitoring systems.

The Chinese researchers noted that cooperation in the study of the bio resources of the Arctic is a key to the sustainable use of the plant- and animal-based raw materials of the region in the pharmaceutical industry; health-resort sector; and the functional food production.

The biological resources of the Arctic are of great value due to their ecological diversity and potential economic benefits. By joining efforts, China-Russia partnership in resource development will be able not only to benefit both countries, but also to contribute to the sustainable development of the Arctic region.

Ms Lu Yin, Professor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

Professor Lu Yin added that these tasks are difficult to tackle within one region; hence, it is necessary to create a Russia-China Arctic Commodity Exchange market. Such a platform will bring together manufacturers from the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. This, in turn, will ensure a sufficient supply of optimum quality raw materials for the industry; facilitate raw materials procurement and business planning by Chinese companies; and allow for developing market price mechanisms.

Nadezhda Kharlampeva, Associate Professor in the Department of World Politics at St Petersburg University, spoke about academic cooperation between St Petersburg University and the Ocean University of China and strengthening of bilateral ties between St Petersburg and Qingdao as centres for developing Arctic competences at the two universities. ‘At present, special attention is to be paid to the concept of "Arctic competence". Annual Arctic meetings that bring together researchers from across Russia and China provide consistent clarification of academic topics and contribute to the new collaborative research initiatives in the Arctic’, underlined Nadezhda Kharlampeva. ‘In the current situation, it is necessary to get involved in the development of Arctic competences within the framework of the master’s programme "International Cooperation in Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development" implemented at St Petersburg University. St Petersburg University and the Ocean University of China can be charged with leading the main effort with the support of their academic and industry partners.’

The master’s programme "International Cooperation in Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development" has no analogues in the Russian Federation. Its successful development and implementation has proved the importance and necessity of training environmental experts.

As part of the meeting programme, representatives of the sister cities — St Petersburg and Qingdao — met at the State Research Navigation-Hydrographic Institute. The participants discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of marine research, initiated by the Ocean University of China back in 2014.

The 12th Russia-China academic meeting "Cooperation in the Arctic in New Conditions" continued in Khanty-Mansiysk, the capital of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, under the auspices of the Northern Forum.