On this day, 40 years ago, on October 7, 1985 (August 23, 1985, the lunar calendar), China became a negotiating party for the Antarctic Treaty. On October 7, 1985, at a special meeting held here, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties unanimously agreed to admit China and Uruguay as negotiating members of the Treaty. The China delegation led by Xu Guangjian attended the two-week 13th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting that opened here. The meeting will mainly discuss issues such as developing the region's untapped resources, mainly oil, while protecting the environment. According to the relevant provisions of the "Antarctic Treaty" signed in Washington, USA on December 1, 1959, non-founding countries of the treaty can join the treaty and participate in consultative meetings if they actively carry out scientific expeditions to the Antarctic. Since 1980, China has sent many survey teams to conduct a large number of scientific inspections in the Antarctic region. In June 1983, China joined the Antarctic Treaty. At the end of 1984, the China expedition team conducted scientific research in the Antarctic and officially established an Antarctic scientific expedition station there.