Political Motives for Cooperation in Food Security between Heilongjiang Province and the Far East

Abstract

Sino-Russian agricultural cooperation has gained strategic importance amid escalating global food security challenges precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and geopolitical conflicts. The interaction between the border regions of Heilongjiang Province and the Russian Far East, which is characterized by both geographical proximity and resource complementarity, is becoming particularly relevant. This article proposes an analytical approach through the lens of “local interaction”. Based on the analysis of specific cases, the structuring of empirical data and the assessment of existing policies, the key obstacles hindering the development of cooperation have been identified: insufficient coherence of intergovernmental initiatives, weak institutional support, high cost of cross-border logistic costs, and limited forms of cooperation between enterprises. It is noted that most research studies focus on the macro level, while local actors are the primary
operational agents and implementers of initiatives on the ground. The author suggests a number of measures aimed at eliminating the identified barriers: the creation of a digital platform for cooperation, the integration of scientific and technological achievements in the agricultural
sector, the development of a legal framework, and the modernization of food supply chains. The study confirms that local cooperation is not only a practical tool for implementing the national strategies of China and Russia, but also the key to forming a sustainable and effective mechanism for bilateral cooperation in the evolving international environment.