BEIJING - China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Friday that it will sell 15 billion yuan ($2.32 billion) in 273-day book entry discount treasury bonds next week.

The bonds, which will come with an annual interest rate of 3.89 percent, will be issued on a discount basis at a price of 97.2 yuan per bill, according to a statement posted on the MOF's website.

The sales period for the bonds will last from August 8 to 10, with the bonds becoming tradable on securities markets on August 12, according to the statement.

The issuance of the bonds marks the fourth time for the ministry to issue discount T-bonds this year.

The ministry previously issued 11.76 billion yuan in 182-day book-entry discount treasury bonds in July, 10 billion yuan in 91-day book-entry discount treasury bonds in April and 9.63 billion yuan in 182-day discount treasury bonds in May.