Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng Monday proposed to lawmakers to issue an additional 50 billion yuan (US$6 billion) of long-term State treasury bonds to increase infrastructure investment.

In March, lawmakers approved the issuing of 438 billion yuan (US$52.7 billion) of bonds this year.

The bonds, to be issued by commercial banks, will be included in the central budget which will have to be adjusted, Xiang told the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) which opened yesterday in Beijing.

The State Council, China's highest governing body, intends to use the extra 50 billion yuan (US$6 billion) of bonds on various projects including water conservancy, building up the eco-system, education, transportation, upgrading businesses and environmental protection, mostly in the western regions, Xiang said.