Features of spatial and economic-demographic development of the Chinese city of Нeihe

Abstract

The trend for high-quality development in various areas of Chinese society is spreading to border areas under the modern border management model that combines security and economic empowerment. The leading role is given to the economic growth of cities on the border and attracting residents from internal Chinese regions to live in the border area. The purpose of the work is to determine the influence of spatial, economic and demographic factors on the development of the territory of the northeastern city of Heihe, bordering Russia, within the framework of the updated strategy for regional coordinated development and the strategy for transforming border areas. The study used a systematic method, which made it possible to identify patterns of spatial development of the border city of Heihe, and a statistical method, which contributed to the consideration of quantitative characteristics of the economic and demographic development of Heihe. The article draws attention to the fact that the spatial and economic development of border Heihe is based on the formation of an innovative industrial center, a modernized agricultural base, and a territory of ‘openness’ in Northeast Asia with a developed transport infrastructure. It is substantiated that the revival of the city of Heihe is due to transformations of the agricultural complex and mining industry with the introduction of high-tech innovations. The leading role is given to Chinese-Russian cooperation, which is expanding every year. All strategic projects of Heihe depend on the effective solution of such demographic problems as the reduction in the city's population, the outflow of population to other regions and the aging population. The materials of the article can be used by Russian authorities in the development of territories bordering China, and also serve as the basis for further research on this topic.