为筹集财政资金，统筹推进疫情防控和经济社会发展，财政部决定发行2020年抗疫特别国债(一、二期)，两期国债竞争性招标面值总额合计1000亿元。
财政部发布的公告指出，
The Ministry of Finance will issue two batches of fixed-rate special bonds, including 50 billion yuan of five-year bonds and 50 billion yuan of seven-year bonds. Both will be listed and traded on June 23, 2020.在这两期特别国债中，一期为5年期固定利率附息债，二期为7年期固定利率附息债。两期国债竞争性招标面值总额均为500亿元，6月23日起上市交易。
【知识点】
国债(government bonds/treasury bonds)是由国家发行的债券(government debt securities issued by the central government)，是中央政府为筹集财政资金而发行的一种政府债券，是中央政府向投资者出具的、承诺在一定时期支付利息(pay periodic interest)和到期偿还本金(pay a par amount equal to the principal at maturity)的债权债务凭证，由于国债的发行主体是国家，所以它具有最高的信用度，被公认为是最安全的投资工具。
我国的国债由财政部代表中央政府发行，除因为一些特殊项目而发行的特别国债外，常见的普通国债一般分为凭证式国债(certificated treasury bonds)和记账式国债(book-entry treasury bonds)。
2020年6月10日，顾客在河北省邯郸市一家超市选购蔬菜。(图片来源：新华社)
今年的《政府工作报告》提出：
The deficit-to-GDP ratio this year is projected at more than 3.6 percent, with a deficit increase of one trillion yuan over last year. On top of this, one trillion yuan of government bonds for covid-19 control will also be issued. These are extraordinary measures for an unusual time.今年赤字率拟按3.6%以上安排，财政赤字规模比去年增加1万亿元，同时发行1万亿元抗疫特别国债。这是特殊时期的特殊举措。
The aforementioned two trillion yuan will be transferred in full to local governments; a special transfer payment mechanism will be set up to ensure that funds go straight to prefecture and county governments and directly benefit businesses and people. These funds should be primarily used to ensure employment, meet basic living needs, and protect market entities. This includes giving support to cut taxes and fees, reduce rents and interest on loans, and increase consumption and investment. It is important to stress that government funds are public in nature and that no such funds are allowed to be withheld or diverted for non-designated uses.上述2万亿元全部转给地方，建立特殊转移支付机制，资金直达市县基层、直接惠企利民，主要用于保就业、保基本民生、保市场主体，包括支持减税降费、减租降息、扩大消费和投资等，强化公共财政属性，决不允许截留挪用。
财政部副部长许宏才日前公开表示，抗疫特别国债主要用于有一定的资产收益保障的公共卫生等基础设施建设和抗疫的相关支出(infrastructure construction related to COVID-19 control)，包括支持小微企业发展(support the development of small and micro enterprises)、财政贴息、减免租金补贴(provide fiscal and rent subsidies)等。
