TRANSBAIKALIA AS A COMMUNICATIONS HUB WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD: POTENTIAL AND RISKS
N.M. Sysoeva1,2
1Irkutsk Scientific Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
2V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
Keywords: geostrategic territory, economic security, export flows, China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, territory development potential, level of integration
Abstract
This article assesses the role of Transbaikalia in the Russian economic space and explores its development potential in the new geopolitical landscape. Transbaikalia, identified as a key geostrategic region, serves as a vital link between the Far East and the rest of Russia. Moreover, it acts as a gateway to the primary land corridor extending deep into the Asian mainland. The study explores the trade and financial interactions of Transbaikalia with China and Mongolia, particularly within the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, as well as its own potential for development through increased business activities with neighboring countries. The analysis draws upon customs data, banking information, and business statistics. It highlights a lower level of economic activity within local communities in Transbaikalia when compared to partners along the economic corridor. Furthermore, it emphasizes the peripheral position of Transbaikalia in federal strategies for macroregional development and the prevailing pattern of interaction in the northern direction, i.e., from China to Russia. This raises the issue of prioritizing the development of this region at the federal level, which is crucial for ensuring economic security amid the intensifying Asian direction of the country’s global engagement.
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