China and Russia launch first joint Arctic sea-ice observation mission

China and Russia have completed their first joint sea-ice observation programme aboard the Chinese icebreaker Xuelong 2, marking a new chapter in Sino-Russian polar collaboration at a time when melting ice caps are reshaping strategic calculations in the Arctic.

Two researchers from Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute joined China's 16th Arctic Ocean Expedition, according to a September 5 report by state broadcaster CCTV. The mission represented the inaugural partnership of its kind between the two nations in polar research.

What the joint team recorded

During the voyage, the Russian scientists visually tracked ice conditions along the vessel's route, documenting sea-ice concentration, thickness and type, as well as snow cover, atmospheric factors and large animal sightings.

Evgeniy Kozlovskiy, a lead engineer at the Russian institute, told CCTV that the collaboration allowed his team to absorb lessons from Chinese methods. "By taking part in this joint observation, we were able to learn from the Chinese team's experience in sea ice observation and draw on the valuable aspects of their observation methods," he said.

The joint survey comes as Beijing and Moscow deepen cooperation in the polar region, a development that has drawn Washington's attention amid climate-driven changes opening new maritime routes through the Arctic.

Source: South China Morning Post