But Beijing and Chinese businesses have been aggressively courting the council's Nordic members in a bid, analysts say, to get a toehold in the Arctic.

WSJ: Arctic Body Weighs China's Bid to Observe

China's accession as observer along with India, Singapore, Italy, Japan and South Korea comes after Beijing aggressively lobbied the body's Nordic members who went on to champion its cause in the council.

WSJ: Arctic Council Grants Observer Status to Six Countries

The Arctic Council, made up of the United States, Russia, Canada and the five Nordic nations -- Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland -- was set up in 1996 to coordinate policy in a resource-rich but environmentally sensitive part of the world.

CNN: China eyes Arctic options in energy, transport