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China seeks to arrange joint Arctic expedition with Russia

China’s State Oceanic Administration will carry out a pilot deep-sea mining project, exploration and deep-sea biological diversity research

BEIJING, February 9. /TASS/. Beijing hopes to organize a joint Arctic research expedition with Russia, the Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday citing China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

"The SOA will also conduct the 7th Arctic research expedition in 2016 and will try to arrange a joint Arctic Ocean expedition with Russia for the first time," the news agency said.

China will continue exploring the Antarctic and an air service team will be established for Antarctic exploration, "which will help form a full monitoring platform of the land, sea and air."

The Chinese agency will also carry out a pilot deep-sea mining project, exploration and deep-sea biological diversity research.

In November 2015, Russia’s Natural Resources Minister Sergey Donskoy told reporters that the ministry backs the attraction of Chinese partners and investments in the Arctic projects. "We support it if Chinese partners contribute investments and technologies," he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei commented on the statement saying: "China-Russia Arctic cooperation enjoys sound basis. We stand ready to strengthen our exchanges and cooperation on Arctic affairs with the Russian side."