Arctic Council Grants Observer Status to Six Countries - WSJ.com
▻http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324767004578484621098493056.html
STOCKHOLM—The Arctic Council granted observer status to six nations, including China, cementing its move from an obscure, mainly research-focused, body to a sought-after club whose members hope to shape growing prospects for resource development and trade.
Underscoring the increased business interest in the region, the council’s final declaration talked of “the central role of business in the development of the Arctic.”
The decision Wednesday came after late-night discussions that began Tuesday in Kiruna, northern Sweden, between eight ministers of the Arctic Council’s member states, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.