Wu gave no timetable for liberalization, but her comments will reinforce speculation that interest rate reform will be a priority for China's leaders when they hold a five-yearly conference in coming weeks to chart financial strategy.

Speaking at a forum on rural finance and development, Wu said the central bank had to maintain deposit and lending limits for now because banks lacked self-discipline.

Without a cap on deposit rates, currently 2.52 percent for one-year money, banks would lure savers with high rates even if they could not afford them.

Similarly, without a floor on lending rates, banks would slash borrowing costs to win business and end up in trouble.

"With the mechanism of financial institutions improving, the floor and ceiling will gradually fade out," Wu said.

The People¡¯s Bank of China (PBOC ), the central bank, removed the ceiling on lending rates in October 2004 but banks must still charge at least 90 percent of benchmark rates set by the PBOC. For the one-year tenor, this rate is 6.12 percent.

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