TASS learned from diplomatic sources in the South African capital that negotiations about the possible expansion of BRICS are to take place in the coming months.

"Even those leaving are nevertheless negotiating possible conditions for the return under the table and do not burn bridges," Dmitry Peskov noted.

"In 2023-2024, the Russian government will allocate up to eight billion rubles to regions for these goals," Dmitry Chernyshenko said.

The domestic demand for coal is fully met in Russia, deputy minister added, noting that export is the driver of the sector’s development.

It is noted that it is unreasonable to seriously amend the existing foreign currency restrictions now.

It is noted that the rise in prices of consumer goods producer is gradually becoming stronger.

Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Dmitry Volvach also noted the ongoing talks on the free trade zone creation with India and Egypt, the plans to shift to a full-fledged free trade zone agreement with Iran, as well as a decision made to start the negotiations on a similar agreement with Indonesia.

Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Leonid Zayats noted that in the first quarter, GDP growth in the agricultural sector for all categories of farms amounted to 3%.

In the baseline scenario, Russia will stop trading coal with Japan and the Republic of Korea from 2026.

Consumer prices rose 1.84% from the year beginning and 0.17% from early April.