Xi extends festival greetings to Antarctic workers BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping extended Midwinter Festival greetings to Chinese and other nations' scientists and engineers working in the South Pole region Friday. "Antarctica is no longer a mysterious region isolated from human civilization, and exploration of the area will play an important role in dealing with global climate change and promoting sustainable development of human society," said Xi. He said scientists and explorers from many countries have carried out tremendous scientific research in this magical land and made many breakthroughs over recent centuries. Working with other nations' scientific researchers, Chinese scientists have made great progress in the exploration of the South Pole and advanced mankind's understanding about the area, said Xi. Scientists of many nationalities have made fruitful achievements in Antarctic scientific expeditions, Xi said, adding he hoped they can increase exchanges and cooperation in order to make new contributions to humanity's peaceful use of the land. Li Keqiang urges marine interests safeguarding BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday urged marine surveillance staff to intensify law enforcement in China's sea territory in order to safeguard the nation's marine interests. Li made the remarks while greeting staff of the State Oceanic Administration ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. China's "Snow Dragon" returns from 29th Antarctic trip SHANGHAI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's icebreaker "Xuelong," or "Snow Dragon," returned to its anchorage in Shanghai on Tuesday, concluding the country's 29th Antarctic expedition. The research vessel left the southern port city of Guangzhou on Nov. 5, 2012 for Antarctica. It covered 29,000 nautical miles over its 156-day southern voyage, among which 6,000 nautical miles were in ice regions.