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Russia has invited China to join in its Arctic Sea Route project by building railways which could transport cargo to ports along the Arctic Circle.

Speaking at the fifth International Arctic Forum in St Petersburg, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that it was important for the two countries to work together in order to create a new economic “Silk Road”. Mr Rogozin also called for the relevant government agencies to use all the new technologies which they have at their disposal in order to expedite the project and ensure that the route remains open all year round.

The Arctic Sea Route (also known as the Northern Sea Route and the Northern Passage) is set to reduce travel time between China and Europe by 12 days, compared to the current Suez Canal route. Major international firms such as Costco have already expressed interest in using the new route, which runs along Russia’s Arctic coastline.

However, Mr Rogozin said that China’s support would offer increased security for foreign and domestic cargo shipments, as well as helping to extend the area served. Currently, the route ends at the Beijing Straits in the north of China.

Traditionally, the Arctic Sea Route was used to bring supplies to some of the more isolated settlements in northern Russia. Today it is seen as the shortest route between the North Atlantic to the Pacific, making it attractive to international cargo agencies and businesses.

In June 2015, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev gave approval for the route to be developed further as a shipping lane with the aim of increasing its capacity from the current four million tons to 80 million tons over the next 15 years.

This will require a huge investment in infrastructure along the coast, as well as the creation of new maps, traffic regulations, pollution controls and navigational and hydrographic support.

Mr Rogozin said that he welcomed Chinese participation in the project, although he stressed that Russia was fully equipped to undertake the task itself using the country’s existing technologies.

 

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