Yue Wang
PhD Candidate, University of Lapland, Finland; Doctoral Researcher,Tampere University,Finland
Visiting at: Ocean University of China
Period: 1 month
Research Theme: (Re)defining Energy Security and Transition in Sino-Arctic Cooperation
This report concerns my one-month research visit as a CNARC Fellow at OUC, from 7 April to 7 May 2025. This visit would not have been possible without the funding provided by the CNARC Fellowship Programme, the generous support of Professor Guo Peiqing, and the kind assistance of his research team in polar and ocean studies—especially Sun Xuejiao, who helped me navigate OUC’s administrative procedures and other practical matters. I am deeply grateful to all of them for enabling a rewarding and productive research experience.
During my stay, I was provided with a private office at the Institute of Marine Development—kindly arranged by Professor Guo—which offered a quiet and well-equipped working environment that allowed me to focus intensively on desk-based research. Beyond my individual work, I was actively involved in the academic life of the host institution. This included presenting my research, participating in research seminars, meeting Professor Guo regularly to discuss my projects, and exploring potential research collaborations with other team members, including both faculty and students. More detailed information regarding these activities is provided below.
On 15 April, I delivered a presentation titled ‘China–Nordic Relations and Arctic Cooperation amid a Changing Geopolitical Landscape’ to the research team. This was followed by fruitful and critical discussions with Professor Guo, Dr. Dong Limin, Dr. Zhang Jiajia, as well as PhD and master’s students who participated in the event. Drawing on my research, I analysed the current challenges faced by China–Nordic Arctic cooperation and China–Nordic relations more broadly. In particular, my presentation explored the underlying and proximate causes of these challenges and discussed possible approaches to navigate them in the foreseeable future, including a greater role that CNARC may play.
In addition to presenting my own work, I attended events featuring presentations by visiting scholars from well-known Arctic research institutions. Their talks covered American and Russian media discourses on China’s role in the Arctic, the role of Spitsbergen in international Arctic research cooperation, the Northern Sea Route, and India’s Arctic policy. I gained valuable insights into these research topics by listening to their presentations and engaging in follow-up discussions.
Moreover, I had two focused meetings with Professor Guo on 8 April and 30 April to discuss China and Arctic cooperation, with particular attention to energy and scientific collaboration with Nordic countries and Russia. We also held several informal conversations during the visit, which allowed for a more dynamic and ongoing exchange of ideas. I also had many opportunities to connect with researchers and students from the polar research team beyond formal academic events. Informal interactions at the office and over lunch provided further insight into ongoing research in Arctic studies, ranging from bilateral relations between China and Arctic states to geopolitics. These exchanges have broadened my understanding of China’s academic landscape in Arctic affairs and helped identify areas of mutual interest. We particularly discussed possibilities for future collaboration on topics such as Arctic energy transition and institutionalised scientific cooperation.
In addition to campus-based activities, I attended the 10th CNARC Symposium and the follow-up Roundtable on Further Cooperation in the Central Arctic Ocean at Tongji University in Shanghai, together with many members of the OUC research team. Building directly on the new findings and exchanges from my OUC visit, I delivered a presentation titled ‘Navigating China–Nordic Research Cooperation in Turbulent Times’ at the CNARC Symposium. The session on international cooperation in the Arctic provided a valuable platform to engage with various stakeholders from across the CNARC network, reinforcing the relevance and timeliness of my research.
To summarise, the CNARC Fellowship was an invaluable academic and professional opportunity. It enabled me to make considerable progress on my research project, gain fresh perspectives through in-depth exchanges with leading and emerging Chinese scholars in the Arctic field, and establish meaningful connections that are likely to lead to future collaboration. The support of CNARC and the hospitality of Professor Guo and his team at OUC were essential to the success of this visit, and I am once again deeply appreciative of both. I look forward to continuing academic engagement with OUC and CNARC in the years to come.
