China to release its first guidebook on Arctic shipping shortcut

China will soon publish its first guide to Arctic sailing through the Northern Sea Route, a newly discovered shortcut that will help Chinese shipping companies reduce transit times between China and Europe.

The guide will offer "comprehensive, practical and authoritative" information for Chinese cargo ships for sailing through the Northern Sea Route, or Northeast Passage, to Europe, Zhai Jiugang, deputy head of the Ministry of Transport's Maritime Safety Administration, said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. He said the guide will be released in July.

The new route can save Chinese cargo ships 5,186 kilometers and nine days from the traditional voyage to Europe, which goes through the Malacca Straits and the Suez Canal, he said.