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Mission and Strategy
Cooperation between China and the United States in polar research has forged ties of friendship in recent years leading to ever increasing bilateral and multilateral engagement. Coordination of navigation in icy regions, joint psychological studies of scientists working in polar areas, and the sharing of research facilities and logistics are a few examples. The US provided valuable technological assistance and information to China's first arctic expedition. The Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) has conducted cooperative research with, participated in academic exchanges between and visited research organizations in the United States. Building on these foundations and capitalizing on an increasingly complimentary research agenda in the polar regions, a Roundtable was convened at the 3rd George Bush Conference on China-US Relations in Washington DC in October of 2007.
The Roundtable reviewed science and research of mutual interest. Discussions among academic, scientific and governmental leaders to considered mutual interests in the polar regions including global climate change. The Roundtable participants explored ways to enhance China-US cooperation. Based on these discussions was strategy was embarced to develop even more beneficial partnerships between the two countries. A wide range of potential mechanisms for increasing collaboration between China and the US in the polar regions were cponsidered. Examples of previous and on-going successful collaborations provide a foundation for expanding existing relationships as well as creating new partnerships. Explicit follow-on activities were identified that encourage collaboration and solidify partnerships at the national, scientific program, organization/agency, and individual researcher levels. A multi-faceted strategy was agreed to advance China-US partnerships in science in the polar regions during the IPY and beyond.
Partnership strategies:
There are a range of activities at various levels that can enhance bilateral cooperation between China and the US in the polar regions. A key to success is the commitment by individuals to a make these partnerships work. National programs and institutions can facilitate these interactions by providing the administrative framework to allow these interactions to occur. On-going forums where China and the US already participate provide venue that can be used to enhance on-going activities through cooperation. The informal working group “China-US Science at the Poles” (CUSP) is intended as a focal point and communicator of opportunities to those that see benefit in internationalizing their programs. However, the success will be determined by the willingness of people to participate in both countries.