Chinese Coast Guard ships have returned from their first Arctic Ocean voyage. The Arctic Ocean route is considered as an alternative route to transport Russian resources to China amid the continuing western sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The China Coast Guard says two government vessels returned from their 35-day voyage on Thursday after conducting a joint drill with Russia in the Arctic Ocean. These particular ships have often been spotted in the East China Sea.

The vessels left a port in Zhoushan in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang last month and reached the Arctic Ocean by way of the Okhotsk and Bering seas.

Coast guard officials say the joint patrol drill with Russia is significant in the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Beijing has been developing the Arctic Ocean lane to reduce its reliance on the transport route through the disputed South China Sea.

China and Russia are expected to deepen cooperation in the Arctic Ocean to counter the United States. The administration of US President Joe Biden regards that body of water as strategically important because of abundance of oil, natural gas and other natural resources.