Within the framework of the IV Northern Sustainable Development Forum the second meeting of the Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Research, initiated by the North-Eastern Federal University and the International Organization Northern Forum will be held. Recall that 13 representatives of universities and organizations of the country, as well as the Oceanological University of China, have already agreed to enter RACAR, accredited by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the inclusion of new participants from India is also expected.

The consortium aims to become a mechanism for the development of cooperation in the Arctic-Asia direction and to expand the international relations of the Russian Federation with Asian countries in the face of new global challenges.

“We drew attention to the initiative to create the Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Research and consider it extremely timely, taking into account the current geopolitical realities and problems associated with the Arctic region and the need for close cooperation between Russia in this area with the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region,” the Program Director of the Russian Council for International Affairs Ivan Timofeev noted earlier. He said: "The solid composition of the Consortium attracts attention. Here are colleagues from the People's Republic of China, leading Russian schools for the study of the Arctic issues. We look forward to close cooperation with the Consortium, are ready to provide partner support and look forward to meaningful results of RACAR's work.”

“NEFU, by its geographical location, acts as a bridge connecting the Arctic and Asia. The idea of ​​the consortium is to create a mechanism for the implementation of joint project activities to study topical issues of sustainable development of the regions of the North and the Arctic, as well as to develop joint interdisciplinary courses and exchange programs. Thus, the consortium intends to develop cooperation in the Arctic-Asia direction, which, in turn, will contribute to the expansion of international relations of the Russian Federation with Asian countries in the face of new global challenges,” said the Deputy Executive Director of the Northern Forum, Head of the Department of International Studies of the Institute of Foreign Philology and Regional Studies of NEFU Daryana Maksimova.

The consortium is based on the concept of sustainable development, which has become a key one for the Arctic region. The Arctic is becoming a region of global importance. Unlike Antarctica, where there is no permanently resident population, about 4 million people live in the Arctic region, of which more than 2.5 million are in the Russian Arctic. The sustainable development of the Arctic region is not only a national, but also a global problem that requires the establishment of fruitful international cooperation between both Arctic and non-Arctic countries showing interest in the region, the organizers are sure.

RACAR is called upon to form a new interregional and international scientific cooperation between professionals, as well as young people in Russia and Asian countries. It is planned to carry out joint scientific activities in the following areas: transport infrastructure in the Arctic, northern delivery, people in the Arctic, improving the quality of life in the North, the resilience of indigenous communities, investments in the Arctic, tourism, Arctic energy systems, natural resources and industrial development in the Arctic, environmental problems in North, climate change and permafrost, biodiversity issues in the Arctic.

Recall that the signing of the declaration on the establishment of the Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Research took place within the framework of the II Forum "Universities and the Development of Geostrategic Territories of Russia" in NEFU. It should be noted that the project "University Center for International Arctic and Asian Studies", which is working on the organization of the Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Studies, became one of the 18 winners of the competition under the Strategic Academic Leadership Program "Priority 2030".