Theme: Arctic Synergies: Policies and Best Practices
Took place in Shanghai, China 26-28 May 2015
Keynote Speech of Mr. Jia Guide at the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium
Mr. JIA Guide, Deputy-Director of the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a keynote speech on occasion of the opening ceremony of the 3rd China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium. He acknowledges that China-Nordic Arctic Research Center (CNARC) has evolved to become a major platform to promote Arctic cooperation between China and Nordic states.
In his speech, he first summarizes the current Arctic situation as overall stability, development underway, while challenges ahead.
“Overall stability” indicates that under the guidance of the eight Arctic states and with the friendly and moderate participation of the other extra-regional actors, the Arctic is well ordered and its legal framework and governance mechanism are constantly improving. The mainstream of the Arctic situation is characteristic of peace and stability.
In terms of “development underway”, on one hand, the level of institutionalization of Arctic governance has been greatly enhanced; on the other hand, Arctic development has been prioritized on the agenda. The establishment of Arctic Economic Council has created the platform to boost Arctic economic exchanges; with ice thawing injecting extra vigor into Arctic development, the prospect of opening-up of Arctic sea routes and resources utilization will provide opportunity to all stakeholders concerned.
“Challenges ahead” is reflected as the fragile ecological environment in the Arctic, the high costs and risks of the Arctic exploration, the environmental, societal and cultural clash to the traditional lifestyle for the Arctic indigenous communities, etc. These challenges are both intra-regional and trans-regional.
He considers the theme of the symposium “Arctic Synergies: Policies and Best Practices” to be the appropriate response in the view of the situation mentioned above. He further explored the connotations of the three keywords: synergies, policies and practices.
To his understanding, “synergy” is the inevitable choice of the Arctic development. Stability in the Arctic provides the foundation for the cooperation among all parties; meanwhile, each relevant state needs to constantly coordinate in order to maintain stability as well. The development underway requests all Arctic stakeholders, in face of the prospects of Arctic development opportunities, to pay give full play to their advantages and grasp opportunities so as to realize synergies. The challenges ahead require synergies as well on both governmental and non-governmental level within Arctic states themselves and between Arctic states and non-Arctic states. Therefore, “synergy” plays a vital role in various aspects to maintain peace and stability in the Arctic region, to promote Arctic development, and to motivate the collaboration of all parties concerned to cope with challenges hand in hand.
The guidance of “policies” is the key to realize synergy. In general, the current Arctic policy environment is favorable to the Arctic cooperation. On one hand, the regional governance mechanism and the cooperation consciousness of the Arctic states have continuously strengthened. On the other hand, Arctic states have adopted a more flexible and open policy on the engagement of extra-regional states in the Arctic affairs, especially with regards to the trans-regional issues.
“Practices” bring the policies into real function. In recent years, China and the Nordic states have enhanced their exchanges, widened the cooperation fields and deepened cooperation contents in the Arctic affairs, playing an active demonstrative role in the Arctic cooperation. On the multilateral level, China and the Nordic countries maintain effective communication in the multilateral forum like the Arctic Council, the Arctic Circle Forum, and the Arctic Frontier Conference, etc. The Nordic states have offered firm support to China’s application for the observer status of the Arctic Council, while China has also paid great attention to the Arctic multilateral exchange platforms initiated by the Nordic states. China’s participating and hosting the country session in the 3rd Arctic Circle Assembly serves an example in point. On the bilateral level, China has held dialogues on Arctic affairs with each Nordic state. The Arctic issues have been important on the agenda of China-Nordic high-level meetings. Following the signature of Framework Agreement between the Government of Iceland and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Arctic Cooperation, China has also further explored the possibility of signing similar agreements with the other Nordic states in different extent.
Looking forward, Mr. JIA Guide believes that the strong complementarity of China-Nordic cooperation will lead to a broader prospect for further cooperation on the Arctic affairs. The Nordic countries take the leading position worldwide in environmental protection, renewable energy and sustainable development, while China is in need of the Nordic technologies when promoting Arctic environmental protection program. With the European economic center moving northwards and the opening-up of the Arctic sea routes, the Nordic states will inevitably play a more significant role in world geopolitics and economy. China is looking forward to the equal rights of participation in the Arctic sustainable development, and is willing to provide the Nordic states with capitals, equipment and labor forces, which might be necessary to their Arctic development projects. China expects to become the potential market for the export and resources development of the Nordic states. He believes that the mutually beneficial cooperation will further tighten the China-Nordic relationship closer and bring mutual benefits to people from both sides. China would like to cooperate with the Nordic states on the Arctic affairs in an active posture, strengthen the policy guidance, refine specific measures, and promote interactions between officials and people in order to transfer the cooperation blueprints to the realities.
Tuesday 26 May 2015
18:30-21:00 Welcome Reception,
- Host: YANG Jian, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
- Remarks: YANG Huigen, Director-General of the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC), Director of CNARC
- Other representatives of CNARC Member Institutes
Wednesday 27 May 2015
Plenary Session
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-10:00 Opening Session
- Chaired by YANG Jian, Vice President, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
- CHEN Dongxiao, President, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
- JIA Guide, Deputy Director, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
- CHEN Yue, Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, State Ocean Administration
- QIN Weijia, Acting Director, China Arctic & Antarctica Administration, State Ocean Administration
- Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland
10:00-10:30 Group Photo & Coffee break
10:30-11:30 Keynote Presentation
Jan-Gunnar Winther, Director, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Young Sea Ice Cruise (N-ICE)
XIAO Cunde, Professor of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, The change of crysphere on the Third Pole and its impacts
Lassi Heininen, Professor of Arctic Politics, University of Lapland, Importance of, and learned lessons from Policy-shaping, the case of the Global Arctic
11:30-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:20 Session I moderated by Jan-Gunner Winther. Theme: Impact of Scientific Developments on Arctic Strategies
- Free discussions
14:20-14:40 Coffe break
14:40-16:30 Session II moderated by Geir Helgesen. Theme: The Framing and Implementation of Arctic Policies
- Free discussions
16:30-16:50 Coffee break
16:50-18:30 Session III moderated by Xia Liping. Theme: Legal Aspects in the Arctic Governance
- Free discussions
19:00-21:00 Symposium Dinner
Thursday 28 May 2015
8:30-10:10 Session IV moderated by Þorsteinn Gunnarsson. Theme: Arctic Geopolitics and Security
- Free discussions
10:10-10:30 Coffee break
10:30-11:50 Session V moderated by Guo Peiqing. Theme: Trans-Arctic Synergies in Economic Development
- Free discussions
11:50-12:00 Closing remarks
- YANG Jian, Chairman of the Symposium
12:00-13:30 Lunch
14:00-17:30 CNARC Roundtable 2015: Arctic Shipping Roundtable Theme: Cooperation towards Operational Use of the Arctic sea routes
19:00-21:00 Dinner
Friday 29 May 2015
9:00-13:00 Escursion (optional upon registration)
- Visit to Polar Research Institute of China and R/V Snow Dragon (Xuelong) at Domestic CHINARE Base with lunch on board
Departure from Shanghai
SYMPOSIUM
INVITED SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS
CHEN Dongxiao, President, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), China.
CHEN Yue, Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, State Ocean Administration.
Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, Head of Division, RANNÍS, Iceland.
GUO Peiqing, Professor, Ocean University of China, China.
Lassi Heininen, Professor of Arctic Politics, University of Lapland, Finland.
Geir Helgesen, Director, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, Denmark.
JIA Guide, Deputy Director, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China.
Halldór Jóhannsson, Director, Arctic Portal, Iceland.
QIN Weijia, Acting Director, China Arctic & Antarctica Administration, State Ocean Administration
Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland.
Jan-Gunnar Winther, Director, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway.
YANG Huigen, Director-General of the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC)
YANG Jian, Vice President, SIIS, China.
SESSION SPEAKERS
Nordic Scholars
Rasmus G. Bertelsen, UiT-The Arctic University of Tromsø, Norway.
Margret Cela, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Valur Ingimundarson, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Uffe Jakobsen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Marina Kalinina, Northern (Arctic) Federal University ( Russia).
Marc Lanteigne, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway.
Bjarni Már Magnússon, Reykjavik University, Iceland.
Arild Moe, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), Norway.
Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network, Iceland.
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Cécile Pelaudeix, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Hanne Peteren, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pierre Pochard, DNV GL, Norway.
Peter Skold, Umeå University, Sweden.
Malgorzata Smieszek, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland.
Chinese Scholars
BAI Jiayu, Ocean University of China.
CHENG Baozhi, SIIS.
DENG Beixi, PRIC.
LIU Dan, Jiao Tong University.
PAN Min, Tongji University.
SU Ping, Tongji University.
XIA Liping, Professor, Tongji University.
ZHANG Xia, Director, Office for Polar Strategy Studies, PRIC.
ZHANG Pei, Deputy Director, Center for Maritime and Polar Studies, SIIS
ROUNDTABLE
ROUNDTABLE SPEAKERS
HU Keyi, Chief Engineer, Jiang Nan Shipyard
Þorvaldur Lúðvík Sigurjónsson, Managing Director, Arctic Services
Nikolay Monko, Deputy head, Northern Sea Route Administration
SONG Jiahui, Director, China Diving & Salvage Contractors Association
Torgeir Sterri, Vice President and Regional Manager of Greater China, DNV GL, Norway.
Felix Tschudi, Chairman of the Board, Tschudi Shipping Company, Norway.
Markku Tuhkanen, Director Communications, Arctia Shipping, Finland.
Arto Uuskallio, Sales & Marketing Manager, Aker Arctic, Finland.
ZHAO Qingai, Captain General, China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company
ZHU Jie, Deputy Director of Property Insurance, China Pacific Insurance
ROUNDTABLE COMMENTATORS
Jong-Deog KIM, Director for Policy Planning Department, Planning and Coordination Division, Korea Maritime Institute.
Rune Rautio, Akvaplan-niva / Port of Kirkenes.
James WU, DNV GL, Norway.
Håkon Smedsvig, International adviser, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association
Anders Oskal, Executive Director, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry
YUAN Shaohong, Polar Research Institute of China
WANG Hexun, Director General, Donghai Navigation Safety Administration MOT
PARTICIPANTS FOR SYMPOSIUM AND ROUNDTABLE
CHEN Danhong, Head of Division of International Cooperation, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration (CAA)
XU Shijie, Head of Division of Policy and Planning, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration (CAA)
WU Leizhao, Division of Policy and Planning, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration (CAA)
Ragnar Baldursson, Minister Counselor, Embassy of Iceland to China Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Shanghai (2 pers)
FENG Shuai, SIIS.
GAO Yiyang, Media & Advocacy Officer, Consulate General of Canada
Arthur Guschin, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore.
Pia Hansson, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Goerild Heggelund (TBC), FNI, Norway.
JIN Ran, Foreign Policy Specialist, Consulate General of Canada
MA Long, Dalian Maritime University.
Gabriella Nordin, Arctic Research Centre (Arcum), Umeå University, Sweden.
Andrey Petrov, Arctic Research Centre (Arcum), Umeå University, Sweden.
QIAN Zongqi, SIIS.
Joselito Sia, Second Secretary and Vice-Consul, Consulate General of Canada
Iselin Stensdal, FNI, Norway.
Students of Prof. GUO Peiqing and BAI Jiayu
TANG Jianye, Shanghai Ocean University, China.
Kevin Luneborg Thomassen, Project Manager, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association
Alexandr Voronenk, Interregional Association of Economic Interaction "Far East and Transbaikalia", Russia.
Arne Walther, FNI, Norway.
Elizabeth Wishnick, Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University, USA (TBC).
WANG Liran, Head of Financial department's Budget Office, State Oceanic Administration(SOA)
WU Leizhao, Division of Policy and Planning, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration (CAA)
YE Jiang, Director, Institute for Global Governance Studies, SIIS.
YE Qing, Assistant President, SIIS.
YU Hongyuan, Director, Institute for Comparative Politics and Public Policy Studies, SIIS.
ZHANG Han, Division Deputy Director, Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China.
ZHANG Yao, Director, Center for Maritime and Polar Studies, SIIS.
ZHANG Xiaohui, Dalian Maritime University.
ZHAO Long, SIIS.
YANG Li, SIIS.
ZHAO Ninning, Wuhan University
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (not named in the program)
Ly Kieu NGUYEN, Intern, CNARC
Egill Þór Níelsson, Executive Secretary, CNARC.
SONG Qing, SIIS.
XU Chen, PRIC.
27 May 2015 Session I Impact of Scientific Developments on Arctic Strategies
Peter Sköld from Umeå University - Arctic Social Sciences and Humanities Research: challenges and prospects
Marina Kalinina from Northern (Arctic) Federal University - Regional cooperation in the North from Arctic policy perspective: what`s the role of universities?
GUO Peiqing from Ocean University of China - Combination between Science and Politics: the Impacts of Arctic Climate Impact Assessment on Arctic Politics
Rasmus Gjedssø from The Arctic University of Tromsø (UiT) - Conceptualizing the Chinese Dream, a Historical Approach from Hard Power to Soft Power: the Case of Science Diplomacy in the Arctic
27 May 2015 Session II The Framing and Implementation of Arctic Policies
XIA Liping from Tongji University - The Evolution of Arctic Governance: Geopolitical Issues
Uffe Jakobsen from University of Copenhagen - Climate change risks, human security and governance in the Arctic
Cecile Pelaudeix from Aarhus University - China’s Role in the Governance of Arctic: Towards an alternative diplomacy
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir from University of Iceland - Iceland’s Arctic policy: Great Powers, Great Opportunities?
Marc Lanteigne & SU Ping from NUPI & Tongji University - China’s Developing Arctic Policies: Myths and Misconceptions
Margret Cela from University of Iceland - Managing the “Middle Of Nowhere”: Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Administrations of the West Nordic Countries.
27 May 2015 Session III Legal Aspects in the Arctic Governance
Hanne Petersen from University of Copenhagen - Welfare, Well-Being and Harmony. Cases on Changing Legal Cultures from China and Greenland/Denmark
Embla Eir Oddsdóttir from Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network - Gender Equality in the Arctic: Current Realities and Future Challenges
BAI Jiayu from Ocean University of China - Port State Contribution to the Arctic Governance and Future Trend
Bjarni Már Magnússon from Reykjavík University - China as the Guardian of the International Seabed Area in the Arctic Ocean
LIU Dan from Jiao Tong University - The Application of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) in the Polar Regions: Legal Issues and the Prospects
28 May 2015 Session IV Arctic Geopolitics and Security
Valur Ingimundarson from University of Iceland - Capturing the Past in the Present: Arctic Geopolitical : Narratives and Ideologies
ZHANG Xia from PRIC - Analysis on the Model of the Development of Arctic Geopolitics
ZHANG Pei from SIIS - The Evolving Concept of Security, and Security in the Arctic
Malgorzata Smieszek from Arctic Centre, University of Lapland - Role of the Arctic Council Chairmanship
DENG Beixi from PRIC - Nordic Perspectives Towards NATO’s Role in the Arctic Security
27 May 2015 Session V Trans-Arctic Synergies in Economic Development
Pierre Pochard from DNV GL - Increased Cooperation Between Chinese and Nordic Companies Around the Yamal LNG project. What Are the Latest Developments from a Shipping and Shipbuilding Perspective?
CHENG Baozhi from SIIS - The Development of Northern Sea Route and the Potential Northern Asian Nations’ Cooperation
PAN Min from Tongji University - The Impacts of Environmental Changes on Arctic Indigenous Economy – the Case of Canadian Inuit
CNARC Roundtable 2015: Arctic Shipping Roundtable Theme: Cooperation towards Operational Use of the Arctic sea routes
Key questions:
Q1: What could an economically feasible model for the commercial use of Northeast Passage look like?
Q2: What will be the main environmental challenges and how can we best manage the risks that come with using the Arctic Sea Routes?
Q3: What will be the main challenges and opportunities of technology used for the Arctic Sea Routes?
Q4: What kind of international cooperation can we foster towards the operational use of the Arctic Sea Routes?
Q5: When do you believe the Arctic Sea Routes can become operational for commercially viable and environmentally acceptable use?
Moderators:
- Dr. YANG Huigen, Director-General of the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC)
- Halldór Jóhannsson, Director, Arctic Portal
Invited Speakers:
- Felix Tschudi, Chairman of the Board, Tschudi Shipping Company, Norway
- Torgeir Sterri, Vice President and Regional Manager of Greater China, DNV GL, Norway
- Arto Uuskallio, Sales & Marketing Manager, Aker Arctic, Finland
- Markku Tuhkanen, Director Communications, Arctia Shipping, Finland
- Þorvaldur Lúðvík Sigurjónsson, Managing Director, Arctic Services, Iceland
- ZHAO Qingai, Captain General, COSCO
- SONG Jiahui, Director, China Diving & Salvage Contractors Association
- HU Keyi, Chief Engineer, Jiang Nan Shipyard
- ZHU Jie, Deputy Director of Property Insurance, China Pacific Insurance
- Nikolay Monko, Deputy Head of the Administration of the NSR, Russia
Invited commentators:
- James WU, DNV GL
- Anders Oskal, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry
- Arild Moe, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- Rune Rautio, Akvaplan-niva / Port of Kirkenes
- Håkon Smedsvig, Norwegian Ship-owners’ Association
- Jong-Deog KIM, Korean Maritime Institute
- YUAN Shaohong, Polar Research Institute of China
- WANG Hexun, Donghai Navigation Safety Administration MOT
The panel
Árni Þór Sigurðsson ambassador presenting
Gao Feng, Special Arctic Representative, presenting
