China has achieved remarkable progress in Antarctic research in the last 20 years and will strive to make a greater contribution in the future, according to Wang Shuguang, director of the State Oceanic Administration.

He made these remarks at the 27th session of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the 14th session of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, which opened Monday in Shanghai.

China dispatched its first national Antarctic expedition in late 1984 and the China Antarctic Great Wall Station was opened on King George Island in 1985, he said. In 1988, China's first east Antarctica expedition set out on its long journey and established the China Antarctic Zhongshan Station. By July 2002, China had successfully organized 18 Antarctic scientific expeditions with nearly 3,000 people visiting the Antarctic for successive research.

China also enthusiastically participated in and played a positive role in international Antarctic affairs. In 1983, it acceded to the Antarctic Treaty. In 1986, China was admitted as a formal member of SCAR and has been actively working at drawing up international Antarctic cooperative research programs.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2002)