The Ministry of Finance said on Friday it would float 24.36 billion yuan (about US$3.6 billion) worth of book-entry treasury bonds, the 18th batch this year.

The ministry said in a statement that the 10-year bonds will have a fixed interest rate of 3.68 percent.

The bonds will be issued from September 22-24 and start trading on September 26.

Interest will be calculated from September 22 and paid semi-annually, with the principal and interest to be paid at maturity.

The new issue will bring this year's book-entry T-bonds to a total of 927 billion yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2008)