The true challenge facing the Arctic is climate change, rather than imagined security threats and geopolitics, former Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2026, held from Thursday to Saturday in Reykjavik, Iceland.
At a plenary session themed "How to Understand China," Fu, also head of the Chinese delegation, held a dialogue with former Icelandic President and Arctic Circle Chairman Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.
Fu said that the Arctic's genuine challenges stem from climate change, and more attention and resources should be directed toward scientific research and environmental protection in the region.
She said too much discussion remains bogged down in imagined security threats and geopolitics, wasting valuable time and resources.
Fu also said that the joint statement issued by the leaders of China and Iceland last year emphasized strengthening cooperation in climate change and green energy, and such pragmatic cooperation better reflects China's policies and intentions regarding its participation in Arctic affairs.
Addressing China's development and its international role, Fu said that China is committed to peaceful development, has no intention of vying for world hegemony, and does not believe the world needs a new hegemony.
China is willing to work with all countries to strengthen cooperation and promote a more just and reasonable global governance system, Fu said.
Founded in 2013 by Grimsson, the assembly convenes every October in Iceland and serves as a major international dialogue platform for global Arctic affairs.
This year's event brought together over 2,500 delegates from more than 70 countries and regions to discuss topics including understanding, protecting, developing, and governing the Arctic.
Real challenge facing Arctic is climate change: former Chinese diplomat
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on Saturday postponing the presidential and legislative elections until Sept 11, 2027, calling for the two elections to be held simultaneously.
The decision follows a resolution by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and revokes Decree No. 4 of 2026, which had scheduled the legislative elections for Nov 28, 2026, according to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).
The decree cited deteriorating security conditions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, restrictions on freedom of movement and Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues as major challenges to election preparations.
In the Gaza Strip, continued exceptional security and humanitarian conditions, the failure to deploy international stabilization and police forces as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, the lack of progress in reconstruction, and the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces have created additional obstacles, WAFA reported.
Israeli restrictions on access to Gaza and East Jerusalem for Palestine's Central Elections Commission (CEC) staff and international observers have also hindered preparations and limited electoral bodies' ability to operate in accordance with legal and democratic standards, the agency said.
Under the decree, the CEC is responsible for preparing, organizing and supervising the presidential and legislative elections in accordance with the applicable General Elections Law, ensuring they are free, fair, transparent and inclusive throughout the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The decree follows national consultations among Palestinian factions and political forces, which, according to WAFA, reached a consensus to postpone the elections.
The legislative elections were part of a broader Palestinian electoral process amid a political division between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as challenges to holding elections across all Palestinian territories.
Abbas postpones Palestinian presidential, legislative elections to Sept 11, 2027
