SANYA: China held a departure ceremony in Sanya, South China's Hainan province, on Saturday to mark the start of its 43rd Antarctic scientific expedition.
Organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the mission will upgrade China's polar research stations and logistics network, as well as conduct comprehensive multidisciplinary surveys and monitoring in Antarctica.
It will also focus on priority research at the frontiers of polar science, test and apply domestically developed equipment, and deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in scientific research and logistics support.
The expedition is supported by the icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, along with another vessel.
More than 600 team members from over 100 domestic institutions are taking part in the mission. The team is expected to return to China in April 2027 after completing its tasks. - China Daily/ANN
