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China issues $2.9b bonds for railway construction

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-16 06:31

China's Ministry of Railways (MOR) on Wednesday began to raise 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) for railway construction by floating its second batch of bonds this year in the inter-bank bond market.

The bond issue comprised 15 billion yuan of 10-year bonds and 5 billion yuan of 15-year bonds, with a bidding yield rate range of 3.73 percent to 4.73 percent.

Proceeds would be used to construct 12 new rail lines, the MOR said.

Last month, the MOR floated its first batch of bonds this year to raise 20 billion yuan for railway construction.

Earlier this year, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State planner, gave the green light to the MOR for issuing 80 billion yuan of bonds this year, mainly to facilitate 31 railway construction projects and locomotive purchases.

China plans to extend its rail network to 100,000 km by 2020 from 76,600 km in 2006, which will cost an estimated 2 trillion yuan.