中国参与北极事务由来已久。1925年，中国加入《斯匹次卑尔根群岛条约》，正式开启参与北极事务的进程。此后，中国关于北极的探索不断深入，实践不断增加，活动不断扩展，合作不断深化。1996年，中国成为国际北极科学委员会成员国，中国的北极科研活动日趋活跃。从1999年起，中国以“雪龙”号科考船为平台，成功进行了多次北极科学考察。2004年，中国在斯匹次卑尔根群岛的新奥尔松地区建成“中国北极黄河站”。截至2017年年底，中国在北极地区已成功开展了八次北冰洋科学考察和14个年度的黄河站站基科学考察。借助船站平台，中国在北极地区逐步建立起海洋、冰雪、大气、生物、地质等多学科观测体系。2005年，中国成功承办了涉北极事务高级别会议的北极科学高峰周活动，开亚洲国家承办之先河。2013年，中国成为北极理事会正式观察员。近年来，中国企业开始积极探索北极航道的商业利用。中国的北极活动已由单纯的科学研究拓展至北极事务的诸多方面，涉及全球治理、区域合作、多边和双边机制等多个层面，涵盖科学研究、生态环境、气候变化、经济开发和人文交流等多个领域。作为国际社会的重要成员，中国对北极国际规则的制定和北极治理机制的构建发挥了积极作用。中国发起共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”（“一带一路”）重要合作倡议，与各方共建“冰上丝绸之路”，为促进北极地区互联互通和经济社会可持续发展带来合作机遇。

　　三、中国的北极政策目标和基本原则

　　中国的北极政策目标是：认识北极、保护北极、利用北极和参与治理北极，维护各国和国际社会在北极的共同利益，推动北极的可持续发展。

China has long been involved in Arctic affairs. In 1925, China joined the Spitsbergen Treaty and started to participate in addressing the Arctic affairs. Since then, China has exerted more efforts in the exploration of the Arctic, expanding the scope of activities, gaining more experience and deepening cooperation with other participants. China's membership in the International Arctic Science Committee in 1996 marked its more active participation in scientific research in the Arctic. Since 1999, China has organized a number of scientific expeditions in the Arctic, with its research vessel Xue Long (Snow Dragon) as the platform. In 2004, China built the Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny Alesund in the Spitsbergen Archipelago. By the end of 2017, China has carried out eight scientific expeditions in the Arctic Ocean, and conducted research for 14 years with the Yellow River Station as the base. Using its research vessel and stations as platforms, China has gradually established a multi-discipline observation system covering the sea, ice and snow, atmosphere, biological, and geological system of the Arctic. The year 2005 saw China as the first Asian country to host the Arctic Science Summit Week, a high-level conference on Arctic affairs. In 2013, China became an accredited observer to the Arctic Council. In recent years, Chinese companies have begun to explore the commercial opportunities associated with Arctic shipping routes. China's activities in the Arctic have gone beyond mere scientific research, and expanded into diverse areas of Arctic affairs including the platforms of global governance, regional cooperation, and bilateral and multilateral affairs, and such disciplines as scientific research, ecological environment, climate change, economic development, and cultural exchanges. As an important member of the international community, China has played a constructive role in the formulation of Arctic-related international rules and the development of its governance system. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative), an important cooperation initiative of China, will bring opportunities for parties concerned to jointly build a "Polar Silk Road", and facilitate connectivity and sustainable economic and social development of the Arctic.

III. China's Policy Goals and Basic Principles on the Arctic

China's policy goals on the Arctic are: to understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, so as to safeguard the common interests of all countries and the international community in the Arctic, and promote sustainable development of the Arctic.