"The Chinese government attaches great importance to polar research, which reflects the country's concern for environmental changes worldwide, and has upgraded the general level of its scientific research," said Chen.

He said that China has set up two expedition stations in the South Pole, established its own polar research centers, polar archives and information management system, and owns a 20,000- tonnage freighter and expedition icebreaker.

"This indicates that an effective Chinese polar expedition and research network has come into being," remarked Chen, who also director of the Polar Research Office under the State Oceanic Administration.

"In recent years China has sent 15 expeditions to the South Pole, conducting year-round observations and multi-subject research, and amassed large amounts of valuable data, samples and information," he said.

"Chinese scientists have published dozens of polar research works, and some of them have met international standards." the scientist added.

The Snow Dragon, which belongs to China's third generation of polar expedition icebreakers, is equipped with advanced guiding, automatic steering and experimental systems, including a 200 square meter lab and state of the art ocean research instruments.

"With an increasing number of Chinese scientist paying visits to the poles, the Snow Dragon, China's mobile polar expedition station, will become well known worldwide," the chief scientist said.