On May 25th, 2021, the China-Russia international forum on cooperation on sustainable development and energy security in the Arctic was held at Jilin University(JLU), co-hosted by the Northeast Asian Studies College of JLU, the Institute of Arctic Studies of JLU, Northeast Asian Research Center of JLU, the Center for China-Russia Regional Cooperation of the Far East Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) of JLU, and the Center for Russia-China Regional Cooperation of Jilin University of the Far East Institute of RAS.
Adopting a combination of online and face-to-face mode, the forum gathered 6 foreign representatives from Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia-China Friendship Association, Russian Communications University, Russian Institute of International Transportation, the Economic and Social Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA), as well as over 30 Chinese experts and scholars from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Oceanic Administration, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China COSCO Shipping Corporation, Ocean University of China, Heilongjiang University, Yanbian University, Jilin University and other organizations participated in the forum. Professor Cai Lidong, Vice President of JLU, Gao Feng, Special Representative of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Arctic Affairs, and Professor Petrovsky, Director of the Center for Russia-China Regional Cooperation of Jilin University of the Far East Institute of RAS attended the forum and delivered speeches. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Yao Yuchun, Head of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences Research of JLU.
President Cai Lidong said in his opening speech that with the acceleration of global warming, the important value of the Arctic region in the fields of shipping channels and energy has become increasingly prominent, and has become a hotspot of widespread concern around the world. This international forum held at Jilin University manages to provide intellectual support for further promoting the sustainable development of the Arctic and expanding Arctic cooperation between China and Russia and other relevant countries under the new realities.
According to Special Representative Gao Feng, the melting of sea ice in the Arctic region has posed tremendous climate and environmental problems and therefore accelerating collaboration in economy, environmental protection and scientific research is not only conducive to peace and stability in the Arctic region but also its sustainable development. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to expand cooperation and deepen their partnership, he said.
Director Petrovsky underscored the necessity for extensive international cooperation in the Arctic and Russia's policies for safeguarding Russia's national interests in the Arctic and promoting its development and protection of the area in National Basic Policies on Arctic until 2035. Although there are considerable differences in the Arctic policies of Russia and China, it is in the interests of both sides to strengthen Arctic cooperation, he added.
Participating experts and scholars had an in-depth exchange of views in the international forum focusing on topics such as current situation in the Arctic and Arctic policies of relevant countries, China-Russia Arctic cooperation, and "Arctic route construction and regional development cooperation. Professor И.В Karabetyants of the Institute of International Transport and Communications of Russian Communications University believes that the development of transportation and logistics in the Arctic is very significant, and the construction of international transport corridors can connect the Arctic with other Eurasian continents and promote the sustainable development of the Arctic. Member of the Russia-China Friendship Association Л.В Filippova analyzed the prospects for cooperation between China and Russia in the construction of the northern sea route. A.T. Boreyko, Director of the Center of Intelligent Transport Technology of the Russian Institute of International Transportation, presented the content on digitalization of Arctic transport hubs.
Japanese scholars such as Hiroshi Arai, Director of the Investigation and Research Department and Senior Research Fellow of the Economic and Social Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA), introduced Japan's Arctic natural gas project, the participation of Japanese industry and commerce in the construction of the Yamal gas field and its cooperation with Russia and China in the Arctic. At the same time, Japan's development in Arctic weather forecasting and navigation technology, demand forecasting technology for the northern sea route and so forth, was also included.
