China to publish Arctic sailing reference

China is accelerating its pace in exploring the North Pole by publishing a comprehensive Arctic sailing reference book.

The book, comprised of eight chapters and 120 pages, offers detailed information on such facts as Arctic geography, climate, ocean, resources, sailing routes, and related international laws and regulations.

The book has passed appraisal by experts and will be published within the year, according to the Navigation Guarantee Center of North China Sea under the Ministry of Transport, which compiled the book.

Once published, it will be the most comprehensive reference book on the North Pole in China, the center said.

The book provides a new route to the Arctic that links Asia, Europe and North America, which will help China become stronger in Arctic exploration and research.

Climate and environmental changes in the Arctic have a direct impact on the world, which has encouraged an increasing number of scientists to explore Arctic sailing routes and seek their commercial value and strategic significance.

According to the book, there are four regular sailing routes to the Arctic, such as the Northern Sea Route, also called the Northeast Passage, which starts at the North Sea and goes through the Barents Sea before arriving at Bering Strait.