Archive for ‘new era’

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22/10/2019

Chinese icebreakers set sail for Antarctic rendezvous that will herald ‘new era of polar exploration’

  • ‘Snow Dragons’ Xuelong and Xuelong II leave on China’s 36th Antarctic expedition
  • Mission to resource-rich continent carries great scientific and economic weight
A ceremony is held for the maiden voyage of China’s home-built polar icebreaker Xuelong II in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua
A ceremony is held for the maiden voyage of China’s home-built polar icebreaker Xuelong II in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua
China has sent two icebreakers to the Antarctic in its most ambitious polar expedition to the Earth’s resource-rich southernmost continent yet.
The Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, left Shanghai on Tuesday morning with a crew of 107 and 1,450 tonnes of supplies on board. It is expected to meet another icebreaker, Xuelong II, at Zhongshan Station on Prydz Bay in East Antarctica in late November before the ships carry out separate missions in the region.
This will be the 36th official Antarctic expedition for China, and the first involving two research icebreakers. Xuelong II, the first Chinese-built vessel of its kind, was commissioned in July and left for its maiden Antarctic journey last week. The ships will be back in China by late spring next year.
The voyages have been hailed by state media as “the start of China’s new era of polar exploration”. Zhao Yanping, the captain of Xuelong II, was quoted by the Science Daily website as saying that experts believed the ships could significantly expand Chinese science missions in the polar regions.
China’s Xuelong icebreaker was bought from Ukraine in 1994. Photo: Handout
China’s Xuelong icebreaker was bought from Ukraine in 1994. Photo: Handout

Xuelong II, with propellers at bow and stern, can make up to 15 knots (28km/h) in open water and three knots (5.6km/h) when breaking ice. Observers said it could pave the way for a nuclear-powered icebreaker.

Xuelong, the country’s first polar research vessel, bought from Ukraine in 1994, is to carry out surveys in the Amundsen and Ross seas.

A report by The Beijing News said that Xuelong’s crew would also visit Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay on the Ross Sea to help in construction work on China’s fifth Antarctic scientific station, which is expected to be operational in 2022.

How Chinese access to Chilean port could give Antarctic exploration activities a boost

Since it joined the Antarctic Treaty in June 1983, China has steadily increased its stakes in a region that contains vast, untapped natural resources, including oil, gas and minerals.

Last year, China announced it would begin building its first permanent airfield on Antarctica – a 1,500 metre strip to be located on an ice cap about 28 kilometres from Zhongshan Station.

Meanwhile, Chinese businesses have taken an interest in the region. Food companies have been among the largest players in fishing krill – tiny, protein-rich shrimp-like creatures that are abundant in Antarctic waters. Tourists from China now account for 16 per cent of the total number of travellers to the world’s last great untouched wilderness, second to visitors from the United States, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

While Beijing said its engagement in the Antarctic would be “peaceful” and the focus of its expeditions was on protecting the environment, its growing presence there has raised concerns in the West, particularly among established explorers such as Australia and the US.

Australia said at the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in Hobart, Tasmania, this week, that despite opposition from China and Russia, it would push for the creation of marine reserves off East Antarctica.

China’s new icebreaker Snow Dragon II ready for Antarctica voyage later this year
China and Australia have also been at odds over Beijing’s proposal to establish a code of conduct for the region around Dome A on the Antarctic Plateau, an area on the top of the ice sheet ideal for space and satellite observation. Canberra rejected the proposal, saying that Dome A is inside its territory.
Source: SCMP

Posted in airfield, Amundsen and Ross seas, Antarctic Plateau, Antarctic rendezvous, Antarctic Treaty, Australia, ‘Snow Dragons’, Canberra, ceremony, Chilean port, Chinese icebreakers, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Dome A, guangdong province, herald, Inexpressible Island, International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, krill, mission, new era, polar exploration, polar icebreaker, Prydz Bay, resource-rich continent, Ross Sea, scientific and economic weight, set sail, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Snow Dragon II, Terra Nova Bay, The Beijing News, Ukraine, Uncategorized, United States, Xuelong, Xuelong II, Zhongshan Station | Leave a Comment »

07/03/2019

Chinese leaders stress high-quality development

(TWO SESSIONS)CHINA-BEIJING-LI KEQIANG-NPC-PANEL DISCUSSIONS (CN)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joins panel discussions by deputies from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) — Senior Chinese leaders on Wednesday urged for more efforts to advance high-quality development.

Li Keqiang, Wang Yang and Han Zheng — members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee — made the remarks at the annual “two sessions” of the country’s top legislative and political advisory bodies.

Joining panel discussions by deputies to the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) from southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Premier Li Keqiang stressed following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as China’s development faces more and graver risks and challenges in 2019.

He called for efforts to keep the economic growth within an appropriate range and promote high-quality development, and urged solid implementation of the planned tax and fee cuts to reduce burden on the real economy.

At the joint panel discussions of political advisors from economy and agriculture sectors, Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, told them to focus on major and difficult tasks, such as high-quality development and supply-side structural reform, and to deepen their investigations and researches. Wang also urged the advisors to guide the people in correctly interpreting the changes in economy and boost their confidence in development.

Vice Premier Han Zheng joined the panel discussions by lawmakers from Hong Kong. He expressed the support to Hong Kong’s bid to build itself into an international innovation and technology hub, and encouraged the people of Hong Kong, especially the youth, to start up businesses and work in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Han also joined panel discussions by lawmakers from Macao. He said that Macao will be supported in its efforts to expand new development space, and to develop its tourism and exhibition industries.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, Chinese leaders, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, exhibition industries, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Han Zheng, high-quality development, Hong Kong, international innovation, Li Keqiang, Macao, National People's Congress (NPC), new era, President Xi Jinping, Southwest China, Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, technology hub, Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Tourism, Uncategorized, wang yang | Leave a Comment »

01/01/2019

Japan-China ties to usher in new era in 2019: Japanese PM

TOKYO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) — Japan will ushering in a new era in its ties with China in the new year among others, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in his New Year speech on Tuesday.

“Japan will draw the global spotlight as we will welcome top world leaders” in the Group of 20 Summit in in June, Abe said.

The prime minister promised to deal with Japan’s low birthrate and aging population, with a free public pre-school education program set to take effect in October for all children aged between three and five.

Posted in Japan, new era, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

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