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China granted observer status in Arctic Council
China, together with five other states, has been granted observer status in the Arctic Council on Wednesday.

China welcomes Arctic Council's granting of observer status
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday that China appreciates and welcomes the Arctic Council's decision to grant permanent observer status to China.

Six new permanent observers:
China, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Italy

Voice of China - Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei:
"China has all along supported the purpose and objective of the Arctic Council.

The council's decision will enhance the communication and cooperation between China and relevant parties on Arctic affairs, and it will allow China to make contributions to the council's work and promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the Arctic region."

Viewpoints

Chinese Media comments:
Global Times: Arctic Council looks beyond icy circle
However, whether the shift from an intergovernmental forum to an international organization can be realized depends on the political will and coordination of the eight Arctic countries, especially the US, Canada and Russia. There is still a long way to go.

Global Times: China won't be frozen out of Arctic
China's successful bid to be accepted as a permanent observer in the Arctic Council will hopefully spur China to more actively participate in the working groups and discussions within the Council. On the basis of its own activities China can allay anxieties about its Arctic intentions.

Jiefang Daily: Will China have a greater say in Arctic affairs?
Zhang Yao, a researcher with the Center for Ocean and Polar Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said that China would actively participate in Arctic affairs no matter what its status in the Arctic Council because the effects of climate change in the Arctic influence China’s northernmost regions. China is also willing and capable of conducting scientific research and development of the Arctic region, Zhang added.

cnr.cn: China seizes the second chance to become observer to Arctic Council
Zhou Dadi, former director of Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission and vice-chairman of China Energy Research Society, predicted on March 19 that China had a great chance to become the observer to Arctic Council as the world’s second largest economy would become an important market on energy and resource exploitation and its investment ability attracted many countries’ attention.

china.com.cn: China should find new roads to Arctic
Though China is an observer nation, it will never have the power of the eight members of Arctic Council. China should seek different ways to participate, such as bilateral cooperation with countries in the Arctic Circle.

People’s Daily (Overseas edition): What China can bring to the Arctic region
Analysts say that China’s observer status will help it have a greater say and play a more important role in dealing with Arctic affairs. China’s interest in the Arctic region is economically driven. China’s participation in the development of the Arctic will also benefit other countries and create a win-win situation rather than conflict or confrontation.

Foreign Media reports:

The Associated Press: Nations nowhere near the north eye Arctic resources, become observers to regional council
It was an odd but not entirely unexpected move by the long-obscure Arctic Council. The global warming is making the Arctic’s elusive supply of oil, gas, minerals and precious metals available — in some areas, for the first time ever — as ever-expanding counties like China and India hunt for additional energy supplies.

BBC: China joins Arctic Council but a decision on the EU is deferred

The growing interest of countries like China and India in joining the Arctic Council reflects the changing nature of the body say observers. Another decision that reflects the beefing up of the Council's activities was the acceptance of an oil spill preparation plan.

According to the Council this legally-binding agreement will substantially improve procedures for dealing with oil leaks in the Arctic.

Background

About the Arctic Council
	The Arctic Council was set up in the 1990s and has been mainly concerned with environmental matters including climate change and pollution, both of which are being felt more heavily in the Northern regions.
Members	Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US
Permanent observers※	Countries	France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK, China, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Italy
	International organizations	the Arctic Parliamentarians, International Union for Conservation of Nature, the International Red Cross Federation, the Nordic Council, the Northern Forum, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme
	Non-governmental organizations	the Association of World Reindeer Herders, the University of the Arctic, and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Arctic Programme
※Permanent observers cannot vote or speak during the annual Arctic Council meetings, but have legal rights concerning Arctic issues.

Strategies of the Arctic Council members:

China's exploration of the Arctic
Time	Event
1990s	China began its involvement in the Arctic region, mainly conducting scientific experimentation.
1996	China joined the International Arctic Science Committee.
2004	China established Huanghe Station, its first research station in the Arctic region.
2006	China applied to become a permanent observer with the Arctic Council.
2007	China was granted "special observer" status with the Arctic Council.
2013	China was granted observer status with the Arctic Council.

News Vocab

国际合作 guójì hézuò international cooperation

“国际合作”是指国与国之间互相配合共同完成某个任务或达成某个目标。(source：《现代汉语词典》)

“国际合作” refers to different countries cooperate to reach a same target.

Example:

“今天很多发言代表都谈到了国际合作，中国愿在科学研究、环境保护等各方面作出贡献.北极理事会选择中国是明智和正确的选择”，高风如是说。（xinhua.com）

“Many spokesmen have discussed international cooperation today, and China is willing to contribute in all aspects of scientific research and environmental protection. It was a wise and appropriate decision for the Arctic Council to elect China as an observer nation,” said Gao Feng.

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