Regional Aspects of the Arctic Ice Silk Road

Abstract

A recently released white paper on the Arctic policy emphasized the principal lines of China's activities in the Arctic, particularly development of resources, fishing and tourism, Arctic shipping routes, infrastructure, navigation security, scientific research, and environmental protection. Such priorities are in the best interest of China's strategy of the unified regional development and new architectonics of the extensive exploration of the potential of China's Northern provinces. Being the northernmost region of the country, Heilongjiang province has an opportunity to become China's outpost for the implementation of the national Arctic policy. This chapter assesses the challenges and perspectives of turning Heilongjiang province into a transport and logistics hub between Northeast Asia, Europe, and North America by China's participation in the development of the Arctic Blue Economic Corridor. The author elaborates an idea of the establishment of the Arctic Research and Industrial Cluster based on the scientific, technological, and industrial facilities of Heilongjiang province.