"Our negotiations with the banks of China led to the preparation of a loan agreement (with the State Development Bank of China. - RT ) to attract 3.5 billion yuan, this is equivalent to about $ 500 million," TASS quoted him as saying.

According to the Minister, Minsk expects that by the end of the year “it will be possible to complete the procedures for obtaining these funds.”

Ermolovich also previously stated that Minsk expects to receive a loan from China in the amount of $ 500 million.

He noted that Minsk no longer asks for a state loan of about $ 600 million from Moscow.

Later, the Kremlin indicated that Russia and Belarus were continuing negotiations on the requested loan for $ 600 million, taking into account previously issued funds.