Sea ice covered more than 40 percent of Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea on Friday amid a sustained cold wave, disrupting maritime operations and prompting authorities to step up ice management to safeguard vital supplies.
According to satellite data from the Ministry of Natural Resources, sea ice spans approximately 12,953 square kilometers of the bay, extending up to 58 nautical miles from the coastline.
At Jinzhou Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province, a major hub in the region, temperatures have dropped to -15 degrees Celsius, and ice has nearly covered the surface waters within the port area. Ice thickness ranges from 5-10 centimeters near the docks to over 30 centimeters in narrow channels where ice has accumulated.
Despite the conditions, port operations continue. Jinzhou Port, which handled over 100 million tons of cargo in 2025, including more than 21 million tons of essential goods such as grain and coal, is maintaining loading activities. Measures such as heating key loading equipment have been adopted to ensure efficiency.
To safeguard the transport of grain and coal from northern to southern China, local maritime authorities have activated an ice-period joint response mechanism. This includes issuing regular ice condition updates, organizing vessels into convoys for entry and exit, and deploying dozens of high-power icebreaking tugs to provide 24-hour escort services.
With cold weather expected to persist in the coming days, authorities remain on alert to monitor ice conditions and keep shipping lanes operational.
Sea ice covers over 40 pct of China's Liaodong Bay amid cold wave
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, on Friday pledged to solidify the comprehensive strategic partnership and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
During their meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei in 2024 and said China is ready to fully implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state to improve the well-being of the two peoples.
The two sides should remain committed to the right direction of bilateral relations, he said, calling for enhanced friendly exchanges at all levels and firm support for each other on issues concerning core interests.
He emphasized the resilience of bilateral ties between China and Argentina over the past 54 years since diplomatic relations were established, noting that the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and the relationship has weathered international changes with remarkable vitality.
Noting that China and Argentina are economically complementary with a solid foundation for practical cooperation, Wang proposed deepening collaboration in economy and trade, technology, finance, and mining, and welcomed Argentina to utilize platforms such as the China International Import Expo and the Canton Fair to bring more quality products to the Chinese market.
He also expressed hope that Argentina would provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, and welcomed Argentine citizens to take advantage of the visa-free policy for trips to explore China.
"China's development and growth represent a reinforcement of peace and stability in the world," Wang said. "We never engage in geopolitical contests, nor do we ask other countries to take sides. China-Argentina cooperation is not targeted at any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third-party factors."
For his part, Quirno said Argentina and China are each other's major trading partners and enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership, stating that Argentina has benefited significantly from cooperation with China.
He also conveyed gratitude for China's valuable support on the sovereignty issue of the Malvinas Islands and for its assistance during Argentina's economic difficulties. Quirno reaffirmed Argentina's firm commitment to the one-China principle.
The Argentine foreign minister expressed hope for closer exchanges with China and deeper cooperation in trade, energy, mining, and finance. He welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Argentina.
China, Argentina pledge mutual support on core interests, deeper economic cooperation
