7th CNARC Symposium 2019

CNARC Symposium 2019 Report - "Arctic Fisheries, Polar Silk Road, and Sustainable Development Practices", 8 May 2019, Shanghai

Prepared by Liu Han, Executive Secretary

Co-organized by Shanghai Ocean University and Polar Research Institute of China, the 7^th China Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium was held from 8-9 May 2019 in Shanghai. Up to 120 participants from China, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Russia gathered together for discussion of cutting-edging issues in the Arctic, such as Arctic geopolitics, governance, legislation, economy, and sea route utilization. Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, the former President of Iceland , Mr. Gao Feng, China’s special representative for Arctic Affairs, Mr. Yang Huigen, Director of Polar Research Institute of China ,Ms. Chen Danhong, Deputy-director of China Arctic and Antarctica Administration, Mr. Chen Yudong, President of Shanghai Ocean University, as well as representatives from the Embassy of the Arctic countries in Shanghai, addressed the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony was co-moderated by Dr. Yang Jian, Deputy Director of Shanghai Institutes of International Studies, and Dr. Arild Moe, Deputy Director of Fridtjof Nansen Institute. Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson traced the achievements of China-Iceland Arctic cooperation since 2012, especially the fruitful scientific cooperation, and gave high expectations to China's Nordic Arctic cooperation in the future. Mr. Gao Feng recalled the Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council in Rovaniemi in May 2019, and appealed that Arctic stakeholders should cooperate and utilize international platforms and mechanisms for Arctic governance, such as CNARC, to continue to promote international cooperation in the Arctic.

The academic conference, with the theme of “Arctic Fisheries, Polar Silk Road, and Sustainable Development Practices”, is comprised of three sessions: Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook; Arctic Fisheries; China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development. Nearly 50 scholars from major institutes on Arctic social science research delivered keynote speeches and presentations.

Prof. Lassi Heininen from University of Helsinki, in his keynote speech on “Sino-Nordic Arctic Cooperation: Objectives and Approaches”, introduced the Nordic model and cooperation and assessed Finland's performance as the chairmanship of Arctic Council during 2017-2019. He believed that Finland's greatest achievement is to maintain the low tension & high stability based on constructive cooperation between the eight Arctic states, connecting the priorities with each other, as well as searching for a balance between economic activities & environmental protection bound with political stability. He also noted that the key features of the Nordic model and cooperation are ‘Unity in Diversity’ and ‘Diversity in Unity’, which are valuable outcomes and learned lessons in globalized world. By virtue of their legacy, the Nordics have a unique potential to play a proactive role in world politics and be influential in the global Arctic.

Prof. Thorsteinn Gunnarsson from Icelandic Centre for Research, illustrated the development of Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks and overviewed the priorities of Iceland´s Arctic Council Chairmanship, in his keynote speech titled “Designing a Pan-Arctic Observing System for Sustainable Development: Common response by the Arctic and Asian countries in view of the Priorities of Iceland´s Arctic Council Chairmanship”. He noted the vision, goals, roadmap, cooperation mechanism of Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks and its achievements, like the “Polar Data Project”, focusing on promoting effective governance and establishing co-funding mechanisms so as to provide researchers and others with access to all Arctic observational data. He also introduced Iceland's priorities during the next president of the Arctic Council, including Arctic marine environment, climate and green energy solutions, people and society in the Arctic, and stronger Arctic Council.

In group discussion session on “Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook”, Prof. Arild Moe from Fridtjof Nansen Institute illustrated the prospects of liquefied natural gas from the Arctic and its significance for China. In his perspectives, the drivers for China’s involvement in the Yamal LNG project are a mix of economic, industrial and political interests. Also he explored the role of the Arctic in the broader Chinese supply picture as well as discussed political or economic obstacles in the way for a continued expansion of Russia’s Arctic LNG projects. Prof. Zhao Huiyu from Shanghai Jiao tong University believed that the current UNCLOS and the special conventions of the Arctic do not cover the entire governance and ecological protection needs of China’s “Arctic Belt and Road” strategy. She suggested that new cooperative policies and governance mechanisms in terms of Arctic Environmental governance need to be established. In group discussion session on “Arctic Fisheries”, Prof. Zou Leiei from Shanghai Ocean University overviewed the retrospect and prospect of Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Management. Prof. Steingrímur Jónsson from University of Akureyri and Marine and Freshwater Research Institute presented the importance of quantifying global warming and natural variability signals in the ocean around Iceland for sustainable decision making, which is an excellent case of science policy decision making.

In group discussion session on “China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development”, with regards to Arctic geopolitics, Prof. Camilla T. N. Sørensen from Royal Danish Defense College analyzed the differences in assessments and strategies pointing to key drivers, e.g. different interests, concerns and stakeholders, in the Nordic capitals. She considered that Arctic politics and security has become increasingly intertwined with great power policy recently, especially the influence of the intensified great power rivalry between the U.S. and China, which influenced the assessments of strategies of Nordic states towards China in the Arctic. Arguably, a context of intensified U.S.-China great power rivalry makes it even more difficult for China as the only non-Arctic great power to ensure its access to and influence in the region. Prof. Zhang Pei from Shanghai Institutes of International Studies illustrated the “Polar Silk Road” should be viewed as a natural extension and integral part of “One Belt and One Road” initiative and more than exploration of the Northern Sea Route and based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. He urged that China should promote cooperation with the Nordics as a whole and at the same time, studying national development strategies of individual Nordic countries. Moreover, efforts should be made to foster a favorable social environment for the project and achieve win-win results by advancing the project based on reciprocity, mutual trust and respect through wide consultation, joint effort, and benefit sharing.

The CNARC Symposium not only builds an epistemic community that facilitates the transfer of knowledge from the Nordic countries to China, but also become an important channel for China and Nordic states for policy advocacy and information dissemination. CNARC is willing to facilitate and enhance such dialogues through its symposium, roundtable and other mechanisms.

Keynote speech of Mr. Yang Huigen at the opening ceremony of the 7^th China - Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium (May 8^th, 2019, Shanghai)

Dear Ms. Chen Danhong, Vice Director General of CAAA
Dear Dr. Chen Dongxiao, President of SHOU
Dear Mr. Martin Bech, Consul for Higher Education and Science and Innovation Attache, Consulate General of Denmark.
Dear Dr. Nalan Koc, Deputy Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute,
Distinguished diplomats, Dear CNARC colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is the 7^th China-Nordic Arctic Research Cooperation Symposium and it is co-convened by the Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU), Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) and the CNARC Secretariat.

First of all, I would like on behalf of the CNARC, to extend the warmest welcome to all the participants, especially to our Nordic colleagues from far away to attend this meeting in Shanghai and the hearty thanks to the SHOU, PRIC, and the CNARC secretariat for the excellent organization of this symposium. Special thanks are due to the great supports from Consulates General of Nordic states in Shanghai, the Municipal Government of Shanghai and the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. We will have the great honor to have H.E. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Chairman of the Arctic Circle and former present of Iceland, the Ambassador for Arctic Affairs of Sweden, the Special Representative for Arctic Affairs of China and Senior Adviser on International Affairs of the Nordic Council of Minister to deliver speeches during this symposium.

The theme of this symposium is on ‘Arctic Fisheries, Polar Silk Road, and Sustainable Development Practices’. We are very pleased to have 130 registered participants to this Symposium and I’d especially extend warm welcome to students and young people from both China and Nordic states to join our CNARC activities.

Fisheries is the strength of our host today SHOU, as one of China’s leading universities in fisheries science established over 100 hundred years ago. SHOU signed an agreement with the University of Tromsø last year and will sign another agreement with University of Akureyri in Iceland. Both Norway and Iceland are important fishing nations with leading science and technology in the field of fisheries and fisheries management systems. It presents another excellent show-case of CNARC’s contribution to the China-Nordic cooperation.

Established in the context of rapid change of the Arctic and global climate and world’s economy globalization, the cooperative regime of CNARC has created a pragmatic and open network for multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting Arctic research, committed to increasing awareness, understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and its global impacts and to promote cooperation for sustainable development of the Arctic and coherent development of China in a global context. Under the joint efforts of its members, CNARC has promoted trans-regional cooperation on Arctic studies, policy advocacy and knowledge dissemination between China and the Nordic countries. CNARC has been acknowledged in the White paper of China’s Arctic Policy as “promoting exchanges and cooperation among the stakeholders.”

CNARC is currently composed of 17 member institutes, 9 from Nordic states and 8 from China. All members are leading think-tanks, research institutes and universities on Arctic studies in their respective country and endowed with capacities to facilitate, coordinate and initiate Arctic research in their professional fields. This year’s members’ Assembly and executive committee meetings discussed and decided to make amendments to the membership article of the CNARC ToR. I am pleased to announce that we are now ready to accept new members to the CNARC family and CNARC is aiming toward an open and international consortium of excellence on Arctic research.

Besides of academic exchanges, CNARC seeks to bring entrepreneurial initiatives into play and has organized economic roundtables as “a laboratory to incubate new ideas for business development and cooperation for scholars, business leaders and policy makers to dialogue together. This year we won’t have a CNARC roundtable, yet CNARC secretariat and community has greatly contributed to the organization of the Arctic Circle China Forum, another big event on the Arctic in Shanghai will take place immediately after this Symposium. The Forum will have 500 participants and 6 plenary sessions and 20 breakout sessions with a theme on ‘China and the Arctic: polar silk road, trans-regional cooperation, Arctic science and innovation, and sustainable development’. As the organizer of Forum, I would also welcome you to this Forum as well.

Lastly, I want to thank this year’s host of the CNARC symposium, the Shanghai Ocean University, for their excellent works and great hospitalities.

To conclude, I sincerely wish the 7^th Symposium gains a great success and all CNARC colleagues have fruitful and pleasant stay Lingang New Town of Shanghai.

Keynote speech of Ms. Chen Danhong at the opening ceremony of the 7^th China - Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium (May 8^th, 2019, Shanghai)

Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,

First of all, on behalf of the CAA (Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration) affiliated to the Ministry of Natural Resources, let me express a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests here, and thank Shanghai Ocean University for its efforts in hosting the conference.

As an observer country of the Arctic Council, China has carried out fruitful cooperation in science, environmental protection, economy and Arctic management with Nordic countries within the framework of the Arctic Council and other bilateral and multilateral frameworks. With the joint efforts of the participating countries, the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center is becoming a mature mechanism for multilateral cooperation. The topics of the symposium are becoming more and more extensive and important, and the discussions are closely related to the practice and development of the Arctic. The center now is more and more attractive and new members are constantly joining. CNARC has created a multi-faceted, multilateral, effective and open cooperation and communication pattern for academic and policy research, which has promoted the understanding of each other’s Arctic policies, and has achieved a lot of fruitful research results.

We firmly uphold the policy of science and technology first and vigorously promote scientific and technological cooperation. This is the cornerstone and driving force of China’s cooperation with Arctic countries. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of China’s scientific expedition to the Arctic on the platform of the "Xuelong". "Xuelong 2" icebreaker, jointly designed by China and Finland, plans to launch a trial voyage in July and it is expected to become a new cooperative platform. China will implement the “Xuelong Pole Exploration” project, focusing on the construction of the Antarctic Observation Network and the construction of information and data service platform. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China are formulating the next five-year plan for Polar Science and technology innovation. China will also actively participate in the MOSAiC project, a large-scale Arctic scientific cooperation project jointly launched by 13 countries. At the same time, we will continue to carry out Arctic scientific expeditions, continue to participate in cooperation patterns, such as the International Arctic Science Commission, continue to promote the integration and sharing of observation data, continue to support scientific research institutions to communicate with foreign think tanks and academic institutions, and continue to encourage enterprises to participate in the Arctic green development and utilization. These measures will not only enhance China’s ability and level of Arctic expedition, but also enhance the foundation and capacity of international cooperation.

At present, the cooperation of science, technology, information, commerce and culture with the ocean as the carrier and link is increasingly close. China’s President Xi Jinping recently proposed building a maritime community with a shared future. The Arctic Ocean is an important link connecting the continents of the Northern Hemisphere. The sustainable development of the Arctic is not only related to the welfare of Arctic countries and aborigines, but also closely related to the overall interests of the international community. We are willing to further strengthen practical cooperation with Nordic countries in science and technology, ecological environment protection and international management so as to better respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rapid changes in the Arctic and make more efforts and contributions to the peace, stability and sustainable development of the Arctic.

To end, I sincerely wish great success for the 7^th China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium.

Thank you!

Tuesday 7 May 2019

10:00-18:00  Registration

15:00 Transport from Vienna International Hotel to Crowne Plaza Shanghai Harbour (by invitation only)

15:30-16:50 Assembly of Member Institutes of CNARC (by invitation only) Location: Marseilles Hall, Crowne Plaza Shanghai Harbour City

17:00-18:00 3rd CNARC Executive Committee Meeting (by invitation only) Location: Marseilles Hall, Crowne Plaza Shanghai Harbour City

17:40 Transport from Vienna International Hotel to Crowne Plaza Shanghai Harbour

18:00-20:00  Welcome Reception

Wednesday 8 May 2019

8:20 Transport to Shanghai Ocean University from hotels

8:40-9:00  Registration

9:00-10:00  Opening

• Chairs: Arild Moe, FNI and Jian Yang SIIS
• Huigen Yang, Director of the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center
• Yudong Cheng, President of Shanghai Ocean University
• Danhong Chen, Deputy Director, China’s Arctic and Antarctic Administration
• Martin Bech, Consul for Higher Education and Science & Innovation Attaché, Consulate General of Denmark
• Nalân Koç, Deputy Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute
• Book launch, 1) Susan Barr, Polar History & Cultural Heritage / 2) Jian Yang, CNARC Book
• MoU signing ceremony between Shanghai Ocean University and the University of Akureyri

10:00-10:30  Group photo & Coffee break

10:30-12:00  Keynote Presentations

• Chairs: Leilei Zou, SHOU and Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, University of Akureyri
• Liangbiao Chen, Shanghai Ocean University: “Genomic basis of an adaptive radiation in the freezing Southern Ocean revealed by two fish genomes”
• Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, Icelandic Centre for Research & SAON: “Designing a Pan-Arctic Observing System for Sustainable Development: Common response by the Arctic and Asian countries in view of the Priorities of Iceland´s Arctic Council Chairmanship”
• Xianyao Chen, Ocean University of China: “The Arctic Multidecadal Variability: Trend or Oscillation?”
• Lassi Heininen, INAR/University of Helsinki & IIASA and Jian Yang, SIIS: “Sino-Nordic Arctic Cooperation: Objectives and Approaches” CNARC book project and the outcomes of Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship

12:00-13:00  Lunch

13:00-14:30  Session I. Theme: Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook

14:30-14:50  Coffee break

14:50-16:20  Session I. Theme: Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook (parallel sessions)

14:50-16:20  Session II. Theme: Arctic Fisheries (parallel sessions)

16:20-16:30  Coffee break

16:30-18:00  Session I. Theme: Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook (parallel sessions)

16:30-18:00  Session II. Theme: Arctic Fisheries (parallel sessions)

18:30-20:30  Symposium Dinner

Thursday 9 May 2019

8:10  Transport to Shanghai Ocean University from hotels

8:30-10:00  Session III. Theme: China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 104)

 8:30-10:00  Session III. Theme: China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 102)

10:00-10:15  Coffee break

10:15-11:45  Session III. Theme: China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 104)

10:15-11:45  Session III. Theme: China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 102)

11:45-12:00  Coffee break

12:00-12:30  Closing remarks (room104) - Chair Jian Yang from SIIS

• H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman Arctic Circle, President of Iceland 1996-2016
• Gao Feng, Special Representative for Arctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China
• Björn Lyrvall, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
• Tómas Orri Ragnarsson, Senior Advisor on International Affairs, Nordic Council of Ministers
• Guðjón S. Brjánsson, 1st Vice President of the West Nordic Council

12:30-13:30  Lunch

13:30-14:30  Tour of Shanghai Ocean University

14:30  Transportation to the Arctic Circle China Forum / Departure

8 May 2019 (13:00-14:30) Session I Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook (room 104)

Liping Xia from Tongji University - Polar Silk Road and Arctic Sea Routes Navigation Governance

Halldór Jóhannsson from Arctic Portal - The future of Arctic Shipping – Is there a business case? Who will drive it? 

Currently there are limited developments supporting increased shipping activity through the Arctic, at least by small to medium business operators. For Arctic shipping to increase it needs a driver. How and by whom will its development be led and how will it be utilized twenty years from now? A very strong consensus among those attending the ACI shipping conference in Hamburg in December 2018 was that there would be caution and likely much less activity in shipping through the Arctic than previously predicted, at least by small to medium commercial shipping operators. The cost, complications and potential risk are simply too high, and the return and advantage too small for them to become interested. The concerns of the stakeholders are a clear lack of infrastructure and information services but more that the business case is not there, or at best, is unclear. As domestic shipping, fishing and tourism is however expected to increase, there were strong concerns of limited search and rescue infrastructure and training. The question “Who is responsible for organizing safe and prosperous utilization and paying for needed further developments?” was also widely discussed but neither the shipping nor the insurance companies currently see a clear role here for them to play. Shipping in the Arctic will need to develop in a global context. It will therefore have to be an international undertaking. There is a clear and highly important need for ongoing internationally driven research and improved integrated observations, new information services, clear regulations and infrastructure development in the Arctic region, not least related to search and rescue services. The Russian Yamal LNG project is a case study and an immediate test of the viability of Arctic sea routes and their potential role as the blue economic corridor. Future activities will likely be driven by the largest international companies that can approach the business of Arctic Shipping from an economic, political and global agenda.

Arild Moe from Fridtjof Nansen Institute - The prospects of liquefied natural gas from the Arctic and its significance for China

Huiyu Zhao from KoGuan Law School Shanghai Jiao Tong University - China's "Ice Silk Road" Construction and Arctic Environmental governance and Protection policies.

Maixiu Hu from Shanghai Ocean University - Challenges and Strategic advantages of constructing the Polar Silk Road based on Northeast Arctic Waterway

Chuanxing Wang from Tongji University - Contested Multilateralism and China’s Engagement Strategy in the Arctic Affairs

8 May 2019 (14:50-16:20) Session I Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook (room 104)

Nalân Koç; Arild Sundfjord; Angelika H. H. Renner; Laura Crews from Norwegian Polar Institute & Institute of Marine Research - Warm water and reduced sea-ice cover over the continental slope in the Nansen Basin

Tianming Gao & Vasilii Erokhin from Harbin Engineering University - China-Russia Collaboration in Shipbuilding and Marine Equipment for Better Navigability of the Polar Silk Routes

Bjørn Gunnarsson from Centre for High North Logistics - Ship Traffic Analysis on the Northern Sea Route 2016-2018

Jiayu Bai & Weiwei Feng from Ocean University of China - Sino-Russian Arctic Cooperation Based on the New Model of Major-Country Relations: From the Polar Silk Road to the Blue Partnership

Hua Xu from China Waterborne Transport Research Institute - The Economic Feasibility of the Northern Sea Route for Tankers and Bulkers: Focusing on the Icebreaking Tariffs

Yujing Wang & Beibei Liu from Harbin Engineering University - Influence on China-West European trade by Northeast Channel of Arctic

8 May 2019 (14:50-16:20) Session II Arctic Fisheries (room 102)

Leilei Zou from Shanghai Ocean University - Retrospect and Prospect of CAO Fisheries Management

Steingrímur Jónsson from University of Akureyri - Quantifying global warming and natural variability signals in the ocean around Iceland for sustainable decision making

Xiaolin Chu from Shanghai Ocean University - Challenges of the conservation and management of the fishery resources in Central Arctic Ocean 

Yajie Liu & Vicky Lam from the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) & University of British Columbia - Economic impacts of climate change on marine fisheries in the Arctic

Frode Nilssen & Valeria Nyu from Nord University Business School - Institutional change, and changing trade patterns Between pragmatic and symbolic behaviour

Fang Fang & Anne Lise Kappel from Ilisimatusarfik - The University of Greenland - From the Middle Kingdom to the Heart of Arctic: - a case study of Chinese workers in Maniitsoq fish factory

8 May 2019 (16:30-18:00) Session I Polar Silk Road: Vision, Progress and Outlook (room 104)

Kamrul Hossain from Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland - Infrastructure development and greater connectivity and digital advancement along the Arctic coast: opportunities and challenges

Xiuhua Zhang, Davydova Svetlana & Susova Varvara from Harbin Engineering University - Study on the Benefits and Risks of China's Participation in Arctic Passage Construction

Mikaa Mered from ILERI School of International Relation - China in the Arctic as a Global Energy Transition Enabler: Rare Earths, Hydrogen and Green Energy Infrastructure

Jialin Han from Dalian Maritime University - Research on Governance of HFO Used and Carried on Board Ships after the Entry into Force of Polar Code

Zhengliang Cao & Wen Zhang from Shanghai Ocean University - Study on Educational Resources from “Polar Silk Road”

Berta Morata from Luleå University of Technology - Arctic Urbanization along the Polar Silk Road. A framework

8 May 2019 (16:30-18:00) Session II Arctic Fisheries (room 102)

Sabrina Hasan from Xiamen University - A new legal regime for Arctic Ocean governance under the umbrella of BBNJ: An analysis on the conservation and sustainable development of Arctic Marine Biodiversity

Godfred Sowah Khartey from Xiamen University - Clash of Approaches in the Context of Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) Including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The Precautionary Approach Vs. Scientific Approach - Which Should Prevail? The Case of the Arctic

Yuxin Ma et al. from Shanghai Ocean University - Deposition, sedimentation and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Arctic Ocean

Beibei Wei et al. from Shanghai Ocean University - Histological observation of gonads for Walleye Pollock in the western Bering Sea during summer

Kai Huang et al. from Shanghai Ocean University - Energy density of gonadal tissue for Walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus in the West Bering Sea

9 May 2019 (8:30-10:00) Session III. China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 104)

Baozhi Cheng from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies - Co-Progressiveness of Arctic Governance and the Initiative of Polar Silk Road: From the Perspective of Normative Development

Egill Þór Níelsson from CNARC - China-Nordic Arctic Relations: Multilateral, Regional, and Bilateral Perspectives

Guðbjörg Ríkey Thoroddsen Hauksdóttir from University of Iceland - The Belt and Road Initiative’s Effects on Small states

Han Liu from PRIC - Analyzing the policy practice of Finland’s Arctic strategy and its latest development

Jenna Björk Guðmundsdóttir from Tsinghua/UniGe - “The Polar Silk Road” – The Arctic becomes a major player in geopolitical and economic development 

9 May 2019 (8:30-10:00) Session III. China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 102)

Dan Liu from KoGuan Law School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University - The Notion of Indigenous Peoples under International Law and Its Implication for the Arctic Indigenous Rights: Asian Observers' Perspective

Margrét Cela from Centre for Arctic Studies, University of Iceland - UN SDGs and wellbeing in the Arctic UN SDGs and wellbeing in the Arctic

Jing Helmersson from Umeå University - A new research methodology for indigenous wellbeing study - Using system dynamics modelling to integrate

Yang Li, Nianlin Zhou Lihua Wu, Di Chen, Haixia Xia & Xiaofang Liu from South China Business College, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies - Research on Tourist Economic Cooperation between China and Nordic Countries

Di Chen from South China Business College, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies - Study on the tourism potential of arctic countries and its influencing factors in China

Ying Luo from South China Business College, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies - A Hierarchical Analysis of Finnish Tourism Theme: An Interpretation Based on Geography, History and Culture 

9 May 2019 (10:15-11:45) Session III. China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 104)

Lassi Heininen from INAR/University of Helsinki & IIASA - “Nordic Arctic Policies and Their Global Relevance”

Pei Zhang from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies - Jointly Building the “Polar Silk Road” and Sino-Nordic Cooperation

Valur Ingimundarson from University of Iceland - The Return to Great Power Competition: Implications for China-Nordic Relations in the Arctic

Yingqin Zheng from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies - Defining China’s Priorities in the Cooperation with the Nordic Countries: From the Arctic and Beyond

Camilla T.N. Sørensen from Royal Danish Defense College - Nordic small states meet great power China in the Arctic in a context of intensified U.S.-China great power rivalry – an analysis of assessments and strategies in the Nordic capitals

9 May 2019 (10:15-11:45) Session III. China-Nordic Policy Synergies on Arctic Sustainable Development (parallel sessions - room 102)

Katarina Gårdfelt & Justiina Dahl from Swedish Polar Research Secretariat - The Polar Research Process – Invitation to an innovative, multi-disciplinary, global co-ordination of polar science

Ping Su From Tongji University - Science Diplomacy and Trust Building: ‘Science China’ in the Arctic

Pia Hansson from Institute of International Affairs, University of Iceland - Moving beyond borders and national interests towards a Common Good Finding Synergies in the Arctic policies of the Nordic states and China

Hongyuan Yu from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies - In the Belly of Global Climate Governance and China’s Role

Gørild Heggelund from Fridtjof Nansen Institute - The Minamata Convention and mercury policy in China: Potential for Arctic cooperation

Karin Buhmann from Copenhagen Business School - Potential for Chinese-Nordic collaboration to gain experience on the implementation of global norms on meaningful stakeholder engagement in mining projects 

Feng Gao presenting at the Symposia

Lassi Heininen presenting at the Symposia

Group photo with Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson the President of Iceland