The Chinese Ministry of Finance announced Monday that it would issue 46 billion yuan (US$5.56 billion) worth of book-entry treasury bonds from Aug. 20 to 26.

According to the ministry, a total of 36 billion yuan of bonds will be issued on the intra-bank bond market and stock market in China. The remaining 10 billion yuan will be sold over the counter to individual investors at banks around the country.

The bonds' annual interest rate is set at 2.66 percent with the term of seven years.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 003)