China will issue this year's second batch of book-entry bonds worth 22 billion yuan (US$3.22 billion) from Thursday, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the issue period would last till February 23.

The 20-year bonds have a fixed yield of 3.86 percent, with interest to be calculated from February 19, and paid twice a year on February 19 and August 19. The principal will be paid on February 19, 2029.

The year's first batch of book-entry bonds worth 26.93 billion yuan (US$3.94 billion) became tradable on Wednesday. The seven-year bonds with a fixed yield of 2.76 percent were issued from February 12 to 16.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2009)