Russia and China are planning to sign a cooperation agreement on Snowflake, the Arctic station powered by hydrogen energy, the Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Nikolai Korchunov told RIA Novosti.
According to him, plans for the creation of the station remain in force, the construction of this facility in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District continues. Of the foreign partners, China is showing the greatest interest in the project, Korchunov pointed out.
"This topic was discussed in detail during the latest round of Russian-Chinese consultations on the Arctic on September 7 this year in Moscow. The Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China has identified Harbin Engineering University as a partner for the Russian coordinator for the creation of the Snowflake station," the diplomat said.
A draft of the relevant cooperation agreement has been agreed with the Chinese side, the timing and place of its signing are being worked out.
Russia is open to the development of mutually beneficial scientific cooperation in the Arctic and is ready to consider possible proposals from other countries for cooperation within the framework of the Snowflake project, he added.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished