Russia asks China's help to build Arctic shipping route

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Russia has asked China for a partnership in developing ports and other facilities in the Arctic region, media reports said Friday.

“Russia wants to team up with China to build an Arctic shipping route,” Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov told South China Morning Post.

Russia controls about 50% of the total Arctic coastline and is seeking to boost sea traffic in the region.

In an ambitious plan, Moscow has set out to build new ports and other infrastructure facilities to increase cargo shipments across the Arctic which is also known as the “Northern Sea Route”.

Denisov said that negotiations over the supply of Russian gas to China through a route known as Power of Siberia Two were at an advanced stage.

“Almost everything has been completed so far but there is only one gap, which is the price,” Denisov said.

However, the two sides are still deciding the price.

“China as a buyer needs gas and a reliable long-term source. Russia is definitely that kind of source,” he said.

The report said that work on Power of Siberia One, also known as the “Eastern Route”, is expected to finish on Dec. 10 and it will transfer 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China every year.

However, the ambitions plan in the Arctic as well as Beijing's increasing role have raised concerns from other Arctic countries as well as environmentalists.

“These are very big projects and of course there are different sides,” Denisov said.