China is ready to buy bonds issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if the multilateral financial institution's quota-based contributions fall short of immediate needs, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan wrote in a Friday article for the London Times newspaper.

It was the second time within a week that a senior government official had expressed the country's willingness to buy IMF bonds.

Earlier this week, central bank deputy governor Hu Xiaolian said China was ready to support the IMF if it decided to raise capital through bond issuance.