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Arctic Yearbook 2014
Arctic research networks and frontiers by providing opportunities for Chinese and Nordic
scholars to conduct Arctic research through fellowship programs; 3) convening regularly the
China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium and other workshops; 4) facilitating information
sharing and cultural exchanges between China and Nordic countries in Arctic context.
As we may say, the Arctic is a region unique and vulnerable to global climate change and
increasing human activities; the trans-regional nature of some Arctic issues, especially in terms of
addressing climate change and exploiting shipping routes, requires joint endeavors and broader
engagement of both Arctic and Non-arctic states. The Nordic Arctic, as an emerging Arctic
geopolitical player, is also home to innovative theories on global governance and sophisticated
technologies in ship-building, fishery, eco-energy and offshore oil engineering, leads globally in
scientific research and social science studies with regard to the Arctic. China on the other hand,
despite a relatively late start and lack of knowledge in the field of Arctic research, possesses
advantages in capitals, markets and labor forces, which together lay the foundation for the future
China-Nordic cooperation.
Given those circumstance, there is a need for a platform of academic cooperation between
China and Nordic countries such as CNARC with the purpose of “building the bridge” and
“filling in gaps of knowledge” so that the two parties would have an enhanced understanding of
each other. From China’s perspectives, the establishment of CNARC will be helpful to China to
understand major issues with regards to the Arctic governance, to figure out main concerns of
the Arctic states, to make up for lack in knowledge, as well as to attempt to construct an
innovative cooperative model between Arctic and non-Arctic states.
Smooth and fruitful progress has been achieved in the past few months. On one hand, the
establishment of CNARC has accelerated and intensified frequent exchanges between China and
Nordic countries, as well as among member institutes. For example, the international symposium
“Asian Countries and the Arctic Future” held in Shanghai in April 2014, jointly organized by
Shanghai Institutes of International Studies and Fridtjof Nansen Institute with the support of
CNARC, addressed the topics of Arctic governance and the engagement of Asian stakeholders
in the Arctic trans-regional cooperation. Representatives from Japan, Korea, India and Singapore
were invited to join the debate.
On the other hand, concrete activities are underway. In early June this year, the 2nd ChinaNordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium took place in Akureyri, Iceland, gathering nearly 50
scholars and researchers from China and Nordic countries, along with government officials and
business representatives, to address the topics of Arctic policies and governance, economy and
maritime cooperation. With deliberate elaboration, CNARC launched its first fellowship
program in May and upon prudent selection, two Nordic and two Chinese fellow candidates
were granted the fellowship to advance their own research project that falls on CNARC’s
research priorities for a one-month period in an institute within CNARC’s network.
There might be concerns over the openness and inclusiveness of the CNARC’s cooperative
framework. In fact this framework is bound to be inclusive and comprehensive, as the
experiences of China-Nordic Arctic cooperation will inevitably make a model for cooperation
between China and other Arctic states. In the future, CNARC will serve as a platform for various
actors in addition to China and Nordic states to promote international cooperation on Arctic
governance.
Asian-Arctic Cooperation