(ECNS) -- Chinese scientists from Jilin University successfully extracted samples of ice core and subglacial bedrock core by drilling through a 545-meter-thick ice sheet with self-developed drilling equipment in the East Antarctic.

The successful drilling practice of subglacial bedrock samples in the Rasmann Hills region of southeast Antarctic is a major breakthrough for China.

According to Jilin University, this is the first international geological survey and sampling of deep subglacial bedrock of the Antarctic ice sheet, marking that China's polar drilling technology has reached the international advanced level.

Scientists plan to deploy more boreholes in the area and obtain more bedrock core samples for new scientificresearch.

Since 2011, a total of 36 scientists from Jilin University were dispatched on Antarctic expeditions, obtaining strong technical support for further international cooperation.