This Day, That Year: May 9

Editor's note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.

On May 9, 1983, China signed the Antarctic Treaty. The country was granted consultative status in 1985.

In 1984, China organized its first Antarctic expedition as seen in the item from China Daily.

Following that, the country has conducted Antarctic expeditions every year.
So far, the country has sent 35 Antarctic expedition teams and built four research stations on the frozen continent－Great Wall in 1985, Zhongshan in 1989, Kunlun in 2009 and Taishan in 2014.

A fifth is under construction on the Ross Sea Ice Shelf.

The country has achieved remarkable progress in South Pole exploration.
During the 32nd expedition, China's first fixed-wing aircraft in the Antarctic, Xueying 601, was put into service, which greatly enhanced the logistical capacity of the country's Antarctic expeditions.

To provide support for fixed-wing planes and facilitate the country's research and expeditions on the frigid continent, China selected a location for its first airfield in Antarctica during its latest expedition.

The airfield will be near the Zhongshan Station and will be equipped with navigation equipment, refueling facilities and a waiting area, according to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

To further beef up logistical capacity, Xuelong 2, the country's first home-built icebreaker was manufactured at Jiangnan Shipyard Co, and will be put into service this year.

The vessel is 122.5 meters long, 22.3 meters wide, and has a displacement of 13,990 metric tons. With a maximum speed of 15 knots, or 27.8 kilo-meters per hour, the icebreaker can sail on 60-day expeditions with 90 crew members and researchers.

The nation has been paying more attention to scientific research and peaceful development in polar regions.