Potential of cross-border economic cooperation as a basis for economic development of neighboring regions of Russia and China

The article studies the current state of the potential of cross-border economic cooperation between Russia and China and emphasizes its importance for the socio-economic development of the border regions. The historical relations between Russia and China serve as a basis for the successful development of cross-border economic cooperation, largely due to favorable economic and geographical location and cultural exchange developed over the centuries. In the last 20 years, there has been a growing interest in studying cross-border interaction between the two countries, which underscores the importance of examining the experience of interaction between Russia and China, which shows how regions adapt to political and economic changes, including international sanctions. The potential of cross-border economic cooperation is becoming a key tool for strengthening economic stability and improving living standards and infrastructure development in the border region. The main directions of the potential use of cross-border economic cooperation include the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, the energy sector, scientific and technical cooperation, and joint innovation projects. However, international sanctions, political instability, and bureaucratic barriers create significant obstacles to effective cross-border cooperation. Russia's “pivot to the East” strategy in 2014 presented new prospects for Russian-Chinese economic cooperation in the Far East. At the same time, challenges such as lack of trust and infrastructural disparities emerged. This study shows the importance of cross- border economic cooperation potential, which is defined by human, natural, technical-technological, institutional, organizational, and information resources. Each type of potential includes various factor components that influence the competitiveness and sustainability of cross-border interaction. The experience of Russian-Chinese cooperation can be used for border regions of other states, covering regional development, energy and cultural cooperation, as well as the fight against international threats.