Investigation of the possibility for constructing China-Mongolia-Russia high-speed railway and its impact on the transboundary territory

The article describes the first stage of the joint scientific expedition of Baikal Institute of Nature Management (Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences) and Institute of Geography and Natural Resources (Chinese Academy of Sciences) devoted to the study of the possibility of constructing China-Mongolia-Russia high-speed railway and its impact on the transboundary territories. Based on the results of expedition studies, we have analyzed natural conditions of the adjacent zone of construction (geology and relief, climate and hydrography, vegetation and landscapes), economic conditions of the territories of the Republic of Buryatia, which the pro- posed high-speed railway would cross. Sectoral structure and specialization of the region are determined, as well as demographic potential, density and structure of the population, the tour- ist-recreational potential of the republic, dynamics and sphere of external relations. We have considered traffic conditions and transport infrastructure of the region, analyzed the projected requirements of the Republic of Buryatia for rail freight and passenger transportation.