By Yu Miao

China is stepping up efforts to secure a role in deciding the future of Arctic issues such as shipping, as melting ice raises hopes of a shorter shipping route to the Atlantic, Reuters quoted a report as saying on Monday.

Beijing is putting more resources into researching the far north, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in its report.

Shorter routes to Europe and North America could have a massive impact on China's exports, the report said, citing estimates that the Northwest Passage, which could become ice-free in the summer months any time between 2013 and 2060, could shave over 6,000 kilometers off some journeys.

However, China is at some disadvantage in negotiations over the future of the area, because it has no Arctic coast, it added. With only five littoral states, most of the rest of the world is in a similar situation of jostling for influence in a potentially vital area.

Ding Yifan, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, told the Global Times that China has no plan to dominate the Arctic.

"As the report said, China is geographically disconnected to the Arctic, which is a large disadvantage compared with littoral countries," Ding said. "Since scientists are still debating on whether Earth is getting warmer or getting colder, the so-called new shipping route is also in doubt. Even if it becomes true, China would not like to see it controlled by a country or a certain group."

Agencies contributed to this story