This is the first time that the Arctic Circle Forum came to China. About 500 participants, including those from Arctic countries, such as Iceland, the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Arctic ambassadors from China, the European Union, Poland, Japan, South Korea, India, diplomats in China, domestic and foreign experts and scholars, and entrepreneurs, and representatives of Arctic indigenous organizations, attended the Forum. Mrs Outi Snellman, Vice-president of UArctic, attended the Opening Ceremony. On behalf of UArctic, Mrs Outi Snellman co-chaired the Session of "Polar Education Cooperation" with Professor Li Yifan, Director of UArctic-HIT Training Center, Chief Scientist of the Polar Research Institute of HIT (Harbin Institute of Techchnology), and Professor Lu Zhibo from Tongji University, and delivered speech entitles "The University of the Arctic Network: Opportunities for UArctic members".

The Arctic Circle China Forum takes "China and Arctic" as its theme, and conducts in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as the Silk Road on Ice, science and innovation, transportation and investment, sustainable development, oceans, energy, governance, etc. Under the framework, the Polar Education Cooperation session emphasized on the collaboration of universities, institutes and organizations on Arctic education. The speakers of the session included:

  • Outi Snellman, Vice President, UArctic
  • Li Yifan，Director of UArctic-HIT Training Centre, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
  • Cheng Xiao, Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, China
  • Lu Zhibo, Professor, Tongji University, China
  • Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector, University of Akureyri, Iceland
  • Gitte Adler Reimer, Vice President, University of Greenland, Denmark.

The Arctic Circle forum aims to build a network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe.