"Meanwhile, the certificates' tradable feature will help enhance deposit liquidity," Lou said.
But at the same time, the freedom to price the rates is likely to set off fierce competition among the lenders, which may translate into higher financing costs for the struggling real economy, a report by Huatai Securities warned.
In the long term, however, liquidity flow will become more market-oriented once interest rate liberalization is realized, the report added.
INTEREST RATE LIBERALIZATION
Interest rate liberalization is a significant part of China's pledge to allow the market to play a decisive role in allocating resources.
Zong Liang, a finance researcher at Bank of China, said Tuesday's introduction of CDs would enhance banks' capability to independently decide the price of interest rates, and nurture social expectations of market-based rates.
Since 1996 when the country removed its control over inter-bank lending rates, China has taken incremental steps toward interest rate liberalization, including a move in July 2013 to scrap the floor limit for bank lending rates and, later, a guideline for piloting negotiable deposit certificates on the interbank market.
On May 1, the long-awaited deposit insurance scheme was put in place, which was considered a precondition for China to free up deposit rates
At a press conference on the sidelines of the national legislature's annual session, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said in March that the possibility for China to fully liberalize its interest rate mechanism is "very high" this year.
And with Tuesday's introduction of the CDs, Guojin Securities predicted that the grip on deposit rate will be completely removed by the end of 2015.
TIMELINE
In 1996, China removed control over inter-bank lending rates.
In 2004, the central bank scrapped an upper limit for banks' lending rate and allowed a downward flotation of no more than 10 percent from the benchmark lending rate.
In July 2013, the central bank fully scrapped the floor limit for banks' lending interest rate.
In December 2013, the central bank gave green light to the issuance of inter-bank negotiable certificates of deposit, which expanded banks' financing channels and encouraged market-based interest rates.
In May 2015, China began implementing the deposit insurance scheme, which is regarded as an important part of financial safety and a precondition for China to free up deposit rates.
On May 10, 2015, the central bank lifted the upper limit of the deposit rate's floating band to 1.5 times the benchmark from the previous 1.3 times, granting banks more pricing autonomy.
On June 2, 2015, the central bank allowed banks to issue certificates of deposit to both individual and institutional investors, less than two years after the issuance of certificates were rolled out among banks.
