On November 19, the 2nd Steering Committee Meeting of FIO-POI China-Russia Joint Research Center of Ocean and Climate (hereinafter referred to as "JRCOC") was successfully held in Qingdao. The main tasks of the meeting are to consider the first annual work report and the next annual work plan of the JRCOC. Sun Shengzhi, Director of Bilateral Cooperation Division of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, Li Tiegang, Director of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), MNR, Shi Xuefa, research professor of FIO, Vyacheslav Lobanov, director of the Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI) of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), Anatoly Astakhov, deputy director of POI, Sergey Gorbarenko, professor of POI, and others attended the meeting. The host of the meeting is Zheng Wei, deputy director of the International Cooperation Division of FIO.

In his speech, Mr. Sun Shengzhi indicated that China and Russia have extensive space for cooperation in oceanography and climatology. The Ministry of Natural Resources attaches great importance to the development and construction of JRCOC, and will continue to support the center in playing a greater role in oceanological scientific research cooperation between the two countries and in the construction of the Polar Silk Road. Li Tiegang, director of FIO, pointed out that JRCOC has operated smoothly since its establishment one year ago, and the two sides have accomplished a lot of practical cooperation in joint survey cruises, personnel exchanges, and cooperative research. In particular, the two sides have overcome difficulties and made joint efforts to implement the first China-Russia Joint Cruise in the Arctic Ocean since the establishment of the center, which provided important scientific support for in-depth understanding of environmental changes in the continental shelf of the Arctic Ocean and of the construction of the Polar Silk Road. Mr. Lobanov pointed out that, with the support of the two governments, JRCOC has made remarkable achievements in the past year. He hoped that the two sides will cooperate more closely to create a better future for the center.

The director and co-director of JRCOC gave an account of the working progress and prospects of the center at the meeting. On the basis of fully affirming the achievements made by JRCOC since its establishment one year ago, the participants discussed the construction and the key work plan of the center in depth. The two sides agreed to make JRCOC an important platform for the cooperation and exchange of scientific research personnel in the oceanography and polar fields between China and Russia, attracting more scientific research institutions from both countries to participate in the construction of the center, while further expanding the fields of cooperation and strengthening the capacity-building of the center. The two sides agreed to continuously seek more in-depth cooperation in personnel exchanges, cooperative research, joint survey cruises, and in other fields.

It is reported that, in September 2017, JRCOC was jointly established in Haishenwai by FIO MNR and POI FEB RAS. It is the first cooperation platform in oceanological scientific research between China and Russia in the context of deepening cooperation in science and technology innovation. JRCOC aims to further expand cooperation in oceanological research between the two countries, boosting the oceanological science and technology, enhancing scientific understanding on the law of ocean change, and strengthening the capacity of both countries for jointly coping with climate change, protecting the ocean environment, and promoting the sustainable development and utilization of ocean resources. The center will provide scientific and technological support for the Polar Silk Road strategy proposed by the two governments. At present, Sergey Gorbarenko, professor of POI, and Shi Xuefa, research professor of FIO respectively served as the director and the co-director of the Center.