Linklaters and Allen & Overy have taken the lead roles on a $2bn (£1.53bn) debt issue that saw the Chinese government sell dollar-denominated bonds for the first time since 2004.

On Thursday (26 October), the Chinese Ministry of Finance sold two tranches of debt in Hong Kong: $1bn in five-year notes and $1bn in 10-year bonds. The offer was announced immediately after the 19th Party Congress, where the ruling Chinese Communist Party outlined its vision for the nation in the next five years.