OREANDA-NEWS Russia and China have agreed to increase cooperation in the Arctic and make more active use of the opportunities of the Northern Sea Route, the dialogue will take place within the framework of a separate specialized Subcommittee on cooperation, follows from a joint communique following the regular meeting of the heads of government of the two countries, which took place the day before.

"Agreed... to increase mutually beneficial cooperation in the Arctic, to carry out a practical dialogue within the framework of the established Subcommittee on Cooperation on the Northern Sea Route of the Russian-Chinese Commission for the preparation of regular meetings of heads of government... To promote the use of the Northern Sea Route for the organization of international maritime transport, to increase opportunities for the provision of icebreaking services for ships, taking into account market principles, to encourage enterprises of the two countries to actively develop cooperation in the field of transportation along the Northern Sea Route, paying special attention to the preservation and conservation of the ecological system of the Arctic region," the document says.

It was also decided to strengthen cooperation in the development of maritime transportation, maritime safety, construction and technology of polar vessels, develop cooperation in the field of forestry, and jointly assist in the implementation of investment projects in Russia in the field of deep processing of wood.