China's Ministry of Finance said it would issue 30 billion yuan (4.41 billion U.S. dollars) in treasury bonds starting next Monday, the first batch of certified T-bonds this year.

The bonds issue would last until March 25, said the ministry in a statement on Tuesday.

There would be 21 billion yuan worth of 3-year bonds with an annual fixed yield of 3.73 percent, and 9 billion yuan worth of 5-year bonds, with an interest rate of 4 percent, said the statement.

The interest would be calculated from the day of purchase, and will be paid once in full when the bonds mature, said the statement.

China has issued two batches of book-entry T-bonds this year, 22 billion yuan of 20-year bonds and 26.93 billion yuan of 7-year bonds, all in February.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2009)