BEIJING - China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Wednesday that it will sell 30 billion yuan ($4.69 billion) in 10-year book-entry treasury bonds starting Thursday.

The bonds carry a fixed annual interest rate of 3.93 percent, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The sales period for the bonds will last from August 18 to 22 and the bonds will become tradable on the securities markets on August 24, according to the statement.

Interest on the bonds will also be paid semiannually while the principal will be returned upon maturity on August 18, 2021, the statement said.