Abstract: The study examines the development of the Russian-Chinese border area, defines the existing settlement systems, identifies factors affecting their formation. It is noted that a continuous urbanized territory with an actively developing infrastructure has been formed on the Chinese side. On the part of the Russian border – a small population, a large number of non-growing settlements, with limited specialization. Large areas are formed on the basis of large cities. This trend has determined the direction of "One city – two states": (Khabarovsk – Fuyuan, Zabaikalsk – Manchuria; Blagoveshchensk – Heihe). In the conducted research, the object of study is settlement systems, the subject is the factors of their formation in modern conditions on the territory of the Russian–Chinese border. The aim is to identify the factors of the formation of settlement for further forecasting of the organization of the border territory of Russia and China. The current trend in the region under consideration is that the border spaces are becoming more interconnected with each other, forming a stable system of cross-border communications. And the introduction of sanctions against Russia, namely the "closure" of the European border, caused a change in the direction of the development vector "to the east", which can become a mechanism for the development of border territories. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time the structure of the settlement of the south and the Far East at the present stage is considered – namely, the zone of active interaction between the two countries (Russia – China) – the territory along the border. The study identifies and examines the settlement systems of the border zone of Russia and China, as well as the factors of their formation (geographical, enographic, cultural, transport, educational and regional policy).

Abstract: The aim of the study is to identify possible prospects for the development of the territory of the Altai Republic as a unique region due to its geographical location at the junction of several borders (Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China). The object of the study is the territory of the border region.
Special attention is paid to the identification of risk factors, positive and negative sides of the territory. The relevance is due to the fact that at present, due to the difficult political situation, the rupture of many economic ties, the vector of development of the country will be radically changed. The emphasis is placed on the development of foreign economic activity with friendly countries, which will certainly affect the development of common border territories. The main conclusions of the study are that both sides of the state border are specific to the existing socio-demographic risks – low development of the territory, border settlements are few, low indicator of social development, unemployment in rural areas, social infrastructure in critical condition. For the first time, the study examines the prospects for the development of the Altai Republic with a comprehensive account of all related factors. The novelty of the study is that for the first time a SWOT analysis of the territory has been applied, which has so far been used only for business plans of companies. The results confirm the effectiveness of this method. In the course of the research, cartographic, economic and statistical methods, as well as general scientific methods were used: analysis, comparison, generalization.

Abstract: Research is conducted on the border region, examining existing and forming systems of populated areas of Russia – Kazakhstan and Russia – China. In this case, the category of boundary (as one of the definitions of border) is a core element of transboundariness, while demarcation of the space serves as the main feature of the studied transboundary region (V. A. Kolosov was one of the first to introduce this concept into the Russian academic discourse) [5]. Transboundary region is viewed as a modern form of border cooperation. It is established that development of Russian borderlands (within the zone of research) takes place at different paces, which is associated with distinction by level of intensity by the border cooperation and integration ties. The work outlines vast differences in the level of development of the territory – border space is diverse and requires overcoming the existing disproportions. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the author is first to determine and compare typological groups of the systems of resettlement characteristic to the border zones of Russia – Kazakhstan and Russia – China. The work also explores the specificity of development of these territories, based on which the author determines the methodological toolset for their possible further development. Analysis is conducted on the transboundary interconnections and formation of the systems of resettlement in the border area. The research outlines the meso-regions in the borderlands, defining development of promising settlements – hubs of border cooperation.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the border territories between the two countries – Russia and China. Currently, in southern region of the Far East and on the territory of Northeast of China in the border zone, structurally are determined several promising directions. In terms of the various strategic goals of implementation of the state programs, they mutually complement each other. These directions have a high likelihood of realization and can provide conjoint development of the border settlement systems. This is because in all of them can be clearly traced the particular historical patterns, which are substantiated mostly by a special development mode of the border area. The author applies the factor analysis for determination of the main priority vectors in development of border territories, considering not only current, but also historical trends and peculiarities of urban development and populating of the border territory of two countries. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the author is first to systemically consider the China’s and Russia’s programs of territorial development (“Open city”, “Russian districts”, law on “Far Eastern Hectare”, law on “Territories of Advanced Socio-economic Development” (Russia)), which implementation leads to another functional and structural transformation of urban layouts in the border area.

Abstract: The object of this research is the localities on the borderlands between Russia and China. The historical and contemporary analysis of the development of borderline urban layouts demonstrated that any city-planning objects strives to expand its territory to achieve its potential. The disruption of localization, closeness of urban localities in the borderlands leads to formation of the phenomenon of condominium territory. The study considers the historical traditions, modern trends and peculiarities in city-forming and resettlement of the borderline territory of two countries. The factor analysis and systemic approach are applied in the course of this work. The scientific novelty consist in the following:  in order to determine the possible vectors of future development of urban layouts of the various hierarchical level, the author conducts their systematization by the characteristic typological groups; this will allow determining the vectors in development of each group.

Abstract: The subject of the study is the territory of the Amur region. The study assesses the urban development opportunities of the territory taking into account risk factors. The region is located in the South of the Far East and has a fairly long border with China. It is now for urban development is becoming more priority model-simulation forecasting, so the main thing in forecasting is the creation of dynamic models of individual settlement systems, but taking into account their interaction in General. This is especially true of the border region, where the process of modeling and forecasting should be implemented bilaterally, and specifically in the conditions of the far Eastern region - from the Russian and Chinese sides. Therefore, it is important to investigate and analyze all possible risk factors of the territory, which is a space with a special development regime, with certain urban development opportunities and potential. The analysis took into account current trends and features in the formation and settlement. For the analysis and assessment of urban development opportunities of the territory the system method is applied. The novelty lies in the fact that for the first time the assessment of the urban development opportunities of the Amur region as a completely unique territory was carried out.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the forms of settlement located in border zone, as well as their emergence and development in the region under consideration. They serve as the foundation for the establishment of systems with particular spatial structure – agglomerations (China – Manchuria, Suifenhe, Heihe, Hunchun; Russia – Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk); transagglomerations (Heihe – Blagoveshchensk, Manchuria – Zabaykalsk, Fuyuan – Khabarovsk, Dongning – Pokrovka); national settlement systems Manchuria – Hailar, Dongning – Hunchun, transboundary settlement systems. This is an evident beginning of the new stage of structural transformations, on a scale of large localities, as well as forms of settlement. Therefore, elaboration of the forecasting principles of their emergence and development is relevant. In terms of such elaboration, the author considered the historical traditions, modern trends, and peculiarities in city-forming and settlement. The scientific novelty lies formulating the principles that view the effect as a result of targeted actions upon the process of the formation of city-planning systems. This will allow determining the optimal development trajectory for the new city-planning objects, as well as exclude obtaining the null or negative effect as a result. 

Abstract: The subject of this research is the city-planning system of the China-Russia border zone, which development marks the two parallel directions associated with the trend and rates of development of the adjacent countries: active city-forming process in China’s territory and depressive state of the urban and rural settlement in Russia. In the Far Easter regions is noticed a decrease in population size across the entire bordering region and “focal” character of settlement along the border with low density of population. On the Chinese side, over a short period of time (policy of rural urbanization), the vast uninhabited territories were simultaneously populated by peasants, which led to emergence of the cities alongside the sparsely populated villages. A distinct Chinese policy of resettlement is reflected in direction of the “urbanization from below” (rural urbanization), due to which the finely-divided structure surpasses the entire territory of the Northeast of China. All of the bordering settlements form the systems of various level of development. For highlighting the peculiarities of formation of the transboundary systems of resettlement, the author apply factor analysis and system method; for determining the dynamics of urbanization and migration flows – the statistical method. The method of cartographic analysis is used for studying the processes of current resettlement on the territories of Far Eastern Region and Northeast of China. This article is first to analyze and determine the typological groups of resettlement systems common to the China-Russia border zone – agglomeration, transborder agglomeration, national systems of resettlement, transboundary systems of resettlement. The crisis state of Russian settlements and active development of the Chinese settlements necessitates the formulation of principles, which allow forecasting their further development. As a result of this research, it is established  that under the influence of certain economic, geopolitical, demographic, and social factors, the existing structure of resettlements in the transboundary zone and range of its impact (south of Far East) will transform.