China proposes building 'Polar Silk Road' in Arctic

China will strive to extend its Belt and Road Initiative to the Arctic region, according to the country's first white paper on its Arctic policy released on Friday.

Though China is not an Arctic country, it is close to the region geographically, the document said, calling the country an "important stakeholder" of the Arctic.

China would like to "jointly understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, and advance Arctic-related cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative," said the white paper issued by the State Council Information Office.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.

According to the white paper, the 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.

"China, as a responsible major country, is ready to cooperate with all relevant parties to seize the historic opportunity in the development of the Arctic, to address the challenges brought by the changes in the region," the white paper noted.

The land territories in the Arctic cover an area of about eight million square kilometers, involving Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States, while the Arctic Ocean has an area of more than 12 million square kilometers, in which coastal states and other states share maritime rights and interests according to international law.

China will 'neither interfere, nor be absent'

During a press briefing about the white paper on Friday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said China "will not interfere in the exclusive affairs between Arctic countries within the region," nor will it be "absent" from the development of the Arctic.

"We will not interfere because China is a non-Arctic state," he said. "[But] as an important stakeholder, China will play an active and constructive role in cross-regional and global issues in the Arctic and make our contributions, which will bring opportunities for the development of the Arctic."

According to the white paper, China supports the peaceful settlement of disputes over territory and maritime rights and interests by all parties concerned in accordance with such treaties as the UN Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and general international law, and supports efforts to safeguard security and stability in the region.

Kong noted China will enhance win-win cooperation with Arctic countries, stressing that the authorities will ask Chinese entities and individuals to engage in Arctic activities in accordance with international law and relevant domestic laws of Arctic countries.

China's policy goals on the Arctic are to "understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the region," he said, citing the white paper.

'Contribution-oriented,' not 'interest-oriented'

As the world's second largest economy, China is ready to help develop the Arctic and address its challenges, said Cui Hongjian, director of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

In response to some Western media's suspicion about China's motives, Cui told CGTN that the release of the white paper shows China's transparency on its Arctic policy.

China vowed in the document to participate in Arctic affairs in accordance with the basic principles of "respect, cooperation, win-win result and sustainability," calling on all stakeholders to make joint efforts on climate change, scientific research, environmental protection, shipping route development, resource utilization and cultural activities.

China is interested in the development of the Arctic, but its priority is to help with the environmental protection and governance in the region, Cui added.

"It's a kind of contribution-oriented, not interest-oriented policy," he stressed.

At the fourth International Arctic Forum in Russia last year, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said China will actively participate in environmental preservation and support scientific research in the Arctic, calling for proper development and utilization of its resources.

By the end of 2017, China had carried out eight scientific expeditions in the Arctic Ocean, and conducted research for 14 years with the Yellow River Station as the base, according to the white paper.