GREEN DEVELOPMENT MODES OF THE BELT AND ROAD

A number of countries are concerned, to a certain degree, about the prospects for the implementation of the Chinese strategic initiative for the joint creation of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” (SREB). These concerns relate to fears of the transfer from China to the “belt” countries of excessive capacities of the polluting primaries industries, possible environmental degradation, and the destruction of the traditional way of life as a result of the implementation of mega-projects, and the fragility and vulnerability of many ecosystems along the routes of the prospective throughways between the eastern provinces of China and Europe [Bezrukov, 2016]. Environmental problems are clearly of key importance for the prospects of China’s initiative. The initiative’s program documents have stressed the need to take into account the interests of all parties and act solely on the basis of mutual benefit. The authors briefly consider the variety of natural and socio-economic conditions in the SREB zone and the sharp differences in the degree of economic development of the territory, which require close attention and scientific justification for political and economic decisions. Particular differences include temperature regime, precipitation, modern atmospheric circulation, transport of particulate matter and contaminants, soils, vegetation, land use, and risks of desertification in the SREB zone. The potential of complementarity of the natural resources of China and a number of neighboring countries may be realized. The paper also discusses China’s present policy in the transition to sustainable development and its underlying concepts and achievements, especially at the level of regions and cities, including the concept of “ecological civilization” and the six stages of greening of cities. The authors believe that tourism related activities should be coordinated specifically at the city level as part of “green development.” It is necessary to create free economic zones in the “economic corridors” along the planned transcontinental lines and utilize the existing national special zones. Such zones are particularly effective in border regions and cities. In conclusion, it is recommended to develop international research networks in the SREB zone, to establish an International Data Center, and to collect, organize, exchange, and publish jointly scientific information on the problems of transition to sustainable development.


INTRODUCTION
The "Silk Road Economic Belt" (SREB) zone (the "Belt and Road" initiative) encompasses many countries, practically all of Eurasia and Africa.The implementation of this initiative involves solving complex environmental problems.Many areas in this zone are rich in resources, but their environment is fragile and vulnerable.These areas are often arid and have high risks of adverse and dangerous natural phenomena (earthquakes, sandstorms, and severe water and wind erosion).There are sharp interstate and interregional economic differences that could potentially contribute to the transfer of polluting industries to poor countries and the degradation of their natural environment.
The initiative is systemic in nature and is based on the principles of integrated development adopted by the international community, i.e., the United Nations; it meets the longterm interests of all countries.The five main priorities of the initiative include coordination of economic policies, strengthening of transport connectivity, elimination of trade barriers, financial integration, and strengthening of contacts between people [Li Zehong, et al., 2015].Territorial structures and local environmental conditions had a significant impact on the configuration of communications and the functioning of the Silk Road in the past.They are also very important for the practical implementation of the SREB project at the present time.Thus, a careful analysis of such factors as relief, temperature regime, precipitation, modern atmospheric circulation, transport of solid particles and pollutants, soils, vegetation cover, land use, physical-geographical zoning, etc., is necessary.
The paper discusses the diversity of natural and socio-economic conditions in the SREB zone and the sharp differences in the degree of economic development of the territory that require scientific substantiation for political and economic decisions, and considers some of the concepts underlying the modern Chinese policy of transition to "ecological civilization".

DIVERSITY OF NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE SREB ZONE
The SREB zone is characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation, which predetermine the high probability of desertification processes.It is experiencing a significant impact of climate change.According to 2011-2014 research, the spring wind regime is determined by western transport in the middle and upper troposphere, which causes the transfer of dust and pollutants from North Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia to East Asia (Fig. 1).The study of the optical density of aerosols, including sulfates, (Aerosol Optical Depth) showed that frequent spring dust storms contribute to the transfer of pollutants mainly from East and South Asia and Europe.The sources of sulfate, organic carbon, and black carbon are associated with East and South Asia, Europe, and North Africa (particularly).The most significant source and recipient of sulfur-nitrogen and phosphorus emissions is East Asia-Western Europe and North Africa-Middle East, respectively (Figs. 2-4).

Fig. 1. Spring wind field in the SREB zone
The most common group of soils in the SREB zone is Leptosol-LP (very shallow soils over hard rock or in unconsolidated very gravelly material) (Fig. 5).Land cover in the  The countries of the western part of the SREB zone, which are part of the EU, have advanced technologies and a developed industrial base, and their export goods enjoy stable demand in the world market.These countries are leading in scientific research, they have wellknown brands and important intellectual property, but they have to import the main natural resources and need additional development resources.The countries in the central part of the zone, located in the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa, are generously endowed with natural resources, but their economic development is highly dependent on oil exports, which determines their high vulnerability to fluctuations in prices and external environment.These countries need to increase the competitiveness of their economies by making fuller use of their natural resources.
The most developed and industrialized regions in the east of the "belt" gravitate towards the coast of the Pacific and Indian oceans.It is also possible to distinguish eight highly urbanized bands along major rivers, as well as linear structures of urban settlement along transcontinental lines.In general, the urbanization is reduced from the northwest to the southeast of the SREB zone.The main gradient of population density is directed from the southeast to the northwest.
Vast differences in natural conditions in the SREB zone, the level of socioeconomic development, GDP per capita, the combination of low-comfort, for humans, and scarcely populated areas with particularly vulnerable ecosystems and highly urbanized areas with a huge load on the environment dictates the need to focus primary attention on environmental factors.The implementation of large-scale projects, including the construction of high-capacity throughways thousands of kilometers long, The SREB "ecological civilization" is based on the "six in one" system, the essence of which is presented in Fig. 6.
For the SREB countries, including China, it is vitally important to develop four types of economic and environmental cycles: within enterprises (companies), industry, regions, and social sphere.These cycles must provide for environmentally sustainable development throughout the production and exchange and consumption process and be consistent with the principles of green and low-carbon economy and reduction, reuse, and recycling of natural resources (Fig. 7).
From 2005 to 2015, more than 300 projects have been implemented or are currently being implemented in China; they target the greening of enterprises, primarily the production of structural materials -the metallurgical and chemical industries.These projects include three main elements: (1) mandatory environmental audits of enterprises whose pollutant emissions exceed norms; (2) the introduction of submerged arc furnaces in the production of ferroalloys and calcium carbide, allowing recycling of carbon monoxide and thermal energy; and (3) a complete transition to dry coke quenching and the use of coke oven gas for electricity production.
After 2005, the government adopted several projects that target more complete use of resources, energy conservation, and industrial ecology in cities specializing in the production of calcium carbide, polyvinyl chloride, and other products of organic chemistry based on coal.Such projects are aimed at recycling and use of waste, including water, industrial gas, and coke tar.Another group of projects relate to the deepening of processing of agricultural products (Fig. 8).
For the integrated prospective assessment of the implementation of the Strategy of Ecological Civilization in Agriculture in the period from 2009 to 2050, a model "AEP-SD" was created (Fig. 9).Given the current conditions and trends, the calculations show a rapid improvement of the situation until 2027, following which it will gradually degrade.The model allows identification of certain defects of the modern agrarian system, such as excessive increase in slaughtering, instability of methane production and unsatisfactory structure of energy balance, slow development of organic farming, etc. [Li Fujia et al., 2016].
The model allows developing some recommendations and avoiding potential risks.It is expected that methane production in the agro-industrial complex will constantly grow, and by 2030 the potential for generating methane-based electricity may exceed 500,000 tons in oil equivalent."Clean" energy will quickly displace coal.By 2022, coal as a source of primary energy, theoretically, will be completely replaced by other types.As a result, carbon dioxide emissions will decrease from 320 thousand tons to 125.7 thousand, and the average annual reduction of carbon dioxide emissions will be 17 times greater than without these measures.
China is rich in wind energy resources, estimated at 3.2 billion kW.The installed capacity of wind power generation can reach 253 million kW, which will make the country the largest wind-energy producer in the world and will ensure the implementation of large-scale economic projects, in particular, in Western China.However, the currently installed wind power capacity is only 0.11 % of all power generation capacity (Table 2).
One example of the successful implementation of local projects for the transition to sustainable development is the city of Shizuishan.Its authorities have focused their efforts on the implementation of three tasks: (1) the recycling of waste and the formation of technological chains for the regeneration of resources in four major industrial parks; (2) the gradual establishment of an ecological system that integrates regional management of production, consumption, and utilization of waste; and (3) the creation of an "ecological community" in the districts of Dawukou, Huinong, and Pingluo.
Projects at the city level play a special role in the transition to sustainable development.
There are six stages, each corresponding to specific tasks.The pinnacle on the path to "ecological civilization" is the achievement of the "harmony city" stage (Fig. 10).This is preceded by the "innovation city" stage founded on socio-economic structures based on scientific developments, pioneering technologies, and the accumulation of human capital and its rational use.An "innovation city" is characterized by favorable conditions for life and business.Its preceding stage, in turn, is a "green city" as the core of ecologically sustainable landscape.It is based on closed industrial technological chains, modern ecological agro-landscapes, and ecological services as an auxiliary system of a "closed" economy (a "circular city").A "convenient city" is a city, whose transportation services mainly consist of public transport organized in threedimensional space.The initial stage on the path to the "harmony city" is a "safe city" where public order is established,  A barrier-free tourism space and special tourism economic zones should be created as instruments of regional economic integration within SREB.
The construction of high-speed railroads, in particular, between Russia, Mongolia, and China, together with international tourism, will contribute to the solution of this task [Dong Suocheng, Cheng Hao et al., 2016].
It is necessary to create free economic zones, utilizing the existing national special zones (e.g., in Russia, "territories of advanced development"), in the "economic corridors" along these high-speed railroads.Such zones are especially effective in border areas and cities located close to each other (for example, Kyakhta-Suhbaatar, Erlian-haote-Zhamyn-Uud, Manzhouli-Chita, Hongchun-Vladivostok-Hunchun).

CONCLUSION
The success of the Chinese SREB strategic initiative largely depends on ensuring "green growth" in the implementation of related projects, that is, developing the economy without increasing or even reducing the burden on the environment.He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Regional Research of Russia" (together with V.M. Kotlyakov).
Li Yu is associate professor and master's supervisor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.He is also Secretary General of Regional Ecological Economics Committee of China Society for Ecological Economics.He was respectively honored with the awards of China Society of Natural Resources, Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources and Hebei Province.In recent years, he published more than 30 papers, and was the leading author of four important consulting reports for the government on regional sustainable development.
Li Zehong is an associate professor and master supervisor from Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS.He also is the Secretary-General of resources economy research committee of China' s Society of natural resources and the Deputy Secretary General of the International Conference on Eco-environment and Sustainable Development of Silk Road Economy Zone.His mainly academy direction is in regional ecological economic system analysis and resource economics research.He has participated in and finished more than 20 research projects including national science and technology basic special project, National Natural Science Foundation Project and regional cooperation projects.He has published more than 50 papers.

Vladimir A .
Kolosov is DSc. in Geography, Professor, Deputy Director (the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Head of the Department of Geography of World Economy (the Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University), and Past President of the International Geographical Union.The main areas of expertise include political geography, geopolitics, social geography, and geography of cities.He taught and conducted scientific research in the universities of France, Finland, England, the USA, Belgium, and the Netherlands.He is the author of more than 350 scientific publications, head or coordinator of the Russian part of scientific projects supported by Russian foundations, European framework programs, the French Research Agency, etc.

GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY 01 (10) 2017 western
and eastern parts of the SREB zone with a relatively high level of socio-economic development is represented by pastures and forests, while the less developed central part is occupied by barrens and shrublands.

Fig. 5. Soil types in the Silk Road Economic Belt zone
products, with the majority of manufactured goods being in the peak part of the life cycle.However, China faces the problem of excess capacity and urgently needs to expand the market.

Table 1 . Economic development diff erences across the three zones
and the removal of the most "dirty" industrial complexes from the territory of China [Xinhua news 2015b].The latter task involves the transition to a post-industrial economy, i.e., the restructuring of the country's economy, aimed at expanding the less polluting industries and services with the possible transfer of harmful industries abroad.Thus, considerable experience has been accumulated in solving environmental problems at different levels.

10. The six steps of ecological sustainability of the city
These studies cannot be successful without extensive international cooperation.Its Fig.