On February 19^th – 20^th of 2020 Fifth International Conference «Arctic: Shelf Projects and Sustainable Regional Development» (Arctic-2020) took place in Moscow.

The event has applicable nature and is intended for practical discussion of effective implementation of state policy for the development of Russian Arctic Zone. Conference is supposed to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of the Arctic and continental shelf, scientific, technical and innovative activities, implementation of best practices and activization of interregional and international cooperation. Arctic-2020 proved itself as an authoritative forum, which draws together federal and regional authorities, legislators, business, science and educators for constructive discussion of actual issues of sustainable development of the region.

Head of the Scientific Sector of Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law «Research Center for SCO and APR» Aleksandr Voronenko participated in the Conference. He presented the initiative of «Bering Pacific-Arctic Council». Our Research Center is one of the members of this project. The presentation created buzz among the conference participants. It shows that this issue is of a great importance today.

Unfortunately, the epidemic situation didn’t let international guests, especially from PRC, to take part in the Conference. Because of that, the appointed meeting of Aleksandr Voronenko with our partners from Ocean University of China (Qingdao) didn’t take place. The meeting was planned to discuss joint research project on the evaluation of the possibility of conjunction of Northern Sea Route with the Silk Road Economic Belt by Russian meridian river systems.

Notable idea for our Chinees partners was announced by director of Silk Road Economic Belt Center of International Congress of Industry and Enterprises, doctor of economics Vladimir Remiyga. He proposed to research the opportunity for establishing the Sino-Russian Consortium for implementation of Arctic projects. As a firs step of such cooperation V. Remiyga suggests to develop a joint ice-class shipbuilding and utilization program. Total volume of financing will be 2-3 bln USD. At first stage 500 mln USD will be needed. This will allow China to abandon the program of building the icebreaker fleet of their own, which demands titanic financial expenses, deepening in principal new technological and scientific sphere, expensive and long-lasting training of highly qualified specialists.

Of course all the ideas, which were announced during the conference, will be carried to our international partners and effective scientific cooperation will continue.