北极具有重要的科研价值。探索和认知北极是中国北极活动的优先方向和重点领域。

　　中国积极推动北极科学考察和研究。中国尊重北极国家对其国家管辖范围内北极科考活动的专属管辖权，主张通过合作依法在北极国家管辖区域内开展北极科考活动，坚持各国在北冰洋公海享有科研自由。中国积极开展北极地质、地理、冰雪、水文、气象、海冰、生物、生态、地球物理、海洋化学等领域的多学科科学考察；积极参与北极气候与环境变化的监测和评估，通过建立北极多要素协同观测体系，合作建设科学考察或观测站、建设和参与北极观测网络，对大气、海洋、海冰、冰川、土壤、生物生态、环境质量等要素进行多层次和多领域的连续观测。中国致力于提高北极科学考察和研究的能力建设，加强北极科考站点和科考船只等保障平台的建设与维护并提升其功能，推进极地科学考察破冰船的建造工作等。

The Arctic holds great value for scientific research. To explore and understand the Arctic serves as the priority and focus for China in its Arctic activities.

China actively promotes scientific expedition and research in the Arctic. China respects the Arctic States' exclusive jurisdiction over research activities under their national jurisdiction, maintains that scientific research in areas under the jurisdiction of Arctic States should be carried out through cooperation in accordance with the law, and stresses that all States have the freedom of scientific research on the high seas of the Arctic Ocean. China is actively involved in multi-disciplinary research including Arctic geology, geography, ice and snow, hydrology, meteorology, sea ice, biology, ecology, geophysics and marine chemistry. It actively participates in monitoring and assessing local climatic and environmental changes, and carries out multi-level and multi-domain continuous observation of atmosphere, sea, sea ice, glaciers, soil, bio-ecological character and environmental quality through the establishment of multi-element Arctic observation system, construction of cooperative research (observation) stations, and development of and participation in the Arctic observation network. China is committed to improving its capacity in Arctic expedition and research, strengthening the construction, maintenance and functions of research stations, vessels and other supporting platforms in the Arctic, and promoting the building of icebreakers for scientific purposes.