The International Monetary Fund on Thursday welcomed China's latest move to raise interest rates.

Officials said more steps were needed to cool off an economic boom that the Beijing government worries could spark a financial crisis.

"While the recent increases in reserve requirements and benchmark deposit and lending rates are welcome steps, a significant risk still remains that macroeconomic policies are not sufficiently tight," David Hawley, the IMF's assistant director of external relations, said at a news conference.

He said additional cuts in interest rates "would drain liquidity form the banking system and guard against continuing rapid credit growth."

China raised interest rates last week for the second time in a month. It also pushed up deposit rates, apparently trying to discourage investment by making savings more attractive.

The move, following an increase in April, suggested Chinese leaders believe measures already in place are failing to cool an economy that grew by 11.32 percent in the second quarter.

Hawley said the Chinese authorities have taken important steps to slow credit and fixed investment growth to more sustainable levels.

"However, economic activity remains strong, driven by net exports and investment, while inflation is low," he said.

Hawley said economic policies "should continue to be geared toward restraining investment growth."