China's first Arctic research station will go into operation in March and construction is almost complete, the State Oceanic Administration announced in Beijing Wednesday.

The station, located at 78.55 degrees North and 11.56 degrees East on Norway's Ny Alesund, was a two-story building with total area of 500 square meters, including laboratory, office, reading room, lounge, dormitory and storeroom, said Wang Fei, spokesman of the administration.

The station was designed for the work and accommodation of 20 to 25 people, Wang said.

The Arctic climate and environment had a direct impact on China, and the station would promote China's Arctic research.

Chinese scientists would focus their research on global climate change and its influence on China, the Arctic environment and climate as well as Arctic life.

As a signatory of the Spitzbergen Treaty, China joined Norway, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea in establishing stations at Ny Alesund in the Spitzbergen archipelago.

Yang Huigen, who is set to become the first chief of the station, said it could run for the whole year and would initially accommodate 10 researchers.

China solicits first arctic station name from all Chinese globally

The State Oceanic Administration on Wednesday asked all the Chinese people throughout the world to suggest a suitable name for China's first arctic exploring station.

All Chinese at home and abroad, including compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, can submit their suggested name through the website of Sina (http://tech.sina.com.cn/focus/chinarc_2004/), according to the State Oceanic Administration. The deadline is Jan.20, 2004.

In 1985, China set up an Antarctic research station with the name of Changcheng (Great Wall), and in 1990 another Antarctic research station named Zhongshan was established.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2004)