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Lukashenko asks Russia for 2 billion dollar loan

He also noted that China extended Belarus an unlinked loan exceeding 1 billion dollars

MINSK, December 21 (Itar-Tass) — Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has asked Russia to extend a 2 million dollar loan for modernization of the country’s enterprises.

“We need 2 billion dollars of cheap money. This is a commercial loan for modernizing enterprises,” he told students of Belarussian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics on Friday.

On December 18-19 the Belarussian authorities “had difficult talks with the Russian government and president in Moscow on many issues, including financial ones,” he said.

“I received no negative answer. On the contrary, they say we will consider your request and will help,” Lukashenko said.

He also noted that China extended Belarus an unlinked loan exceeding 1 billion dollars.

“This is cheap money for us to be able to fulfil our domestic projects,” Lukashenko said.

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