The Role of Regions in Transport Cooperation between Russia and China: Development of Transit Corridors and Interregional Competition

<jats:p>The article examines Russia and China’s transport diplomacy in the context of regional competition for partici-pation in transit projects. The key transport corridors ‒ the Transsib, the BAM, the Russia ‒ Mongolia ‒ China corridor and the ports of the Far Eastern Federal District ‒ are analyzed with an assessment of their capacity, cargo range, and logistical advantages. Particular attention is paid to the distribution of economic benefits be-tween regions: beneficiary territories (Transbaikalye, Primorye, Irkutsk region) and the subjects remaining in a less fortunate position due to their farness distance from the main roads have been identified. Based on the analysis of the factors of cooperation and competition, a forecast for the development of transport diplomacy up to 2030 is formulated. The conditions for possible synchronization of regional strategies are outlined: the creation of supra-regional management structures, the introduction of unified digital logistics platforms and the agreed tariff schemes development. It is concluded that the elements of the “zero-sum game” will remain in the short term, given the potential for deepening the mid-term cooperation.</jats:p>