The Arctic shipping route has been a silent area for centuries. Developing Arctic shipping route and shortening the distance between the East and the West has become Navigator’s dream. In recent decades, as the development of global industry and rapid increase of greenhouse gas emissions, global average temperature has been going up with the more obvious temperature up in the Arctic. The ice coverage of this area in summer has been sharply getting shrunk in recent several years. Then more and more countries started to concentrate on the Arctic shipping route and some commercial ships positively took trial navigation in the shipping route. At present, due to ice reduction and lower exploring cost, the Arctic welcomes another new age.

He Jianzhong, Vice Minister of Transport

Opening “golden channel” of the arctic shipping route can greatly shorten the distance from China to Europe and North American ports. Its potential value is coming out as marine transportation channel connecting East Asia and Russia, North Europe and other Arctic areas.

Guo Peiqing, Professor of School of Law and Political Sciences, Ocean University of China

The Arctic shipping route will change the trade pattern and also influence the energy structure in China. The energy such as natural gas can also be transported through shipping in the future. The opening of the Arctic shipping route is a very rare opportunity for China who is struggling for maritime power.

Wang Hexun, Director of Donghai Navigation Safety Administration MOT

The distance from China ports to east coast of North America has been shortened 2000-3500 miles compared with Panama cannel. The ports at the north of Shanghai to the ports of West Europe, North Sea and Baltic Sea can be reduced 25％-55% than traditional shipping route.

Mr. Guy Saint-Jacques, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China

The Arctic shipping is an important work for us. As we see, the floating ice in the Arctic area is decreasing in summer and even some cruise ships visiting this area, which may cause potential problems. We hope to establish systematic regulations for supervising cruise ships and setting up safety navigational environment. Meanwhile, we also hope to carry out new rules under the framework of the Arctic council that once the problem occurred, how we can make solutions.

Li Zhenfu, Professor of Transportation Management College, Dalian Maritime University

The Arctic area and its shipping route have been upgraded to a serious international issue. The Arctic coastal counties cannot decide which country can hold the right to participate to solve the Arctic issues.

With the rapid economic development in China, the promote growth of importing the strategic materials such as oil, natural gas, iron ore, etc. and the large-scale development of mineral resources in the Arctic has offered an significant importing source for China, which plays an important role in spreading risks and making the state economic security. At the point of the state long-term development, although China is not the Arctic country but the Arctic has potential giant benefit, China shall positively participate in Arctic affairs especially the opening of shipping route and exploration of natural resources, considering the views and position of the Arctic countries to ensure Chinese benefit in the Arctic areas with the aim to serve for the state strategic layout.