Advanced container homes safeguard China's Antarctic expedition amid harsh conditions

Members of China's Antarctic expedition team at Kunlun Station, the highest-altitude Chinese research station on the continent, are using upgraded container homes to better cope with the region's harsh climatic conditions.

Kunlun Station is located in Dome A, the highest ice dome on the Antarctic Plateau. The area offers an ideal location for scientific research in fields like glaciology, astronomy, geology, and geophysics, thanks to its unique geography and natural conditions. However, its harsh climate makes it one of the most inaccessible places on Earth for humans.

Living at an altitude of 4,087 meters, with an average annual temperature of minus 52.5 degrees Celsius, the expedition team at Kunlun Station has adopted specially designed container houses to help them withstand the extreme cold and low atmospheric pressure in the region.

"Our main mission for this Antarctic expedition is to deploy and operate our self-developed polar research pressure-resistant buildings at Kunlun Station, creating an environment similar to a plain. Just like a space station, these houses will separate us from the harsh external conditions, with an independent environmental control system inside. They will significantly improve the living and working conditions and greatly reduce the physiological damage caused by the extreme environment on the team," said Ye Zhiwu, a member of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team.

In addition, the upgraded container cabins, with more space and enhanced functionality, now accommodate all expedition team members at Kunlun Station, while significantly improving living conditions.

This advancement marks a key step in China's inland scientific research in Antarctica, according to Ye.

"After the building is pressurized, the pressure difference between the interior and exterior reaches 25 kPa, with a temperature difference of up to 110°C. Ordinary buildings cannot meet the strength and insulation requirements for such conditions. Through advancements in structural and material technology, we have achieved high strength, excellent airtightness, superior insulation, and lightweight construction for the building. We also have overcome challenges related to the rapid assembly of modular buildings and airtightness, allowing for fast setup with fewer people. With reserved interfaces, we can expand the building size next year, like putting together building blocks," said Ye.

Advanced container homes safeguard China's Antarctic expedition amid harsh conditions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos in Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan Province, on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that during the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali held in-depth and friendly exchanges and reached new common understandings on advancing the all-weather strategic partnership.

China and Ethiopia have worked together to achieve early results in implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, helping Ethiopia accelerate its development and revitalization and also bringing more tangible benefits to the Ethiopian people, he added.

Noting that China and Ethiopia share a glorious history of resisting and overcoming foreign aggression, and now stand as important representatives of the Global South and members of BRICS, Wang said that China is ready to work with Ethiopia to enhance strategic communication, promote common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, and safeguard common interests through solidarity and coordination.

The two sides should strengthen the synergy of development strategies and explore and expand cooperation in new energy vehicles, green industries, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence, he said.

Timothewos said that Ethiopia enjoys a robust partnership with China, and that the two sides have achieved fruitful outcomes through practical cooperation, which demonstrates the solidarity and mutual trust between the two countries and sets a model for the Global South. He thanked China for its strong support on issues concerning Ethiopia's core interests and its valuable assistance to Africa's development. Ethiopia will continue to firmly uphold the one-China principle, he said.

Timothewos congratulated China on successfully launching and establishing the International Organization for Mediation, and expressed Ethiopia's readiness to strengthen cooperation with China in the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The two sides also exchanged views on enhancing coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and BRICS, and expressed readiness to jointly increase the voice and representation of the Global South and pool collective strength for common revitalization.

Chinese FM meets Ethiopian counterpart in Changsha