ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Arken Imirbaki, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attended the 5th International Arctic Forum "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" here on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He participated in the plenary session of the forum and delivered a speech about China's position on Arctic affairs at the seminar "The Arctic: A Region of Rivalry or Cooperation?"

On the sidelines of the forum, Arken Imirbaki met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev, who is also the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia.

The International Arctic Forum was initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2010 to serve as a multilateral platform for discussing Arctic issues and cooperation.

The forum this year gathered more than 3,000 participants from over 10 countries, including Putin and leaders of Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway.