China's manufacturing activity picks up in March

A worker welds at a construction site in Yiliang, Yunnan province, Feb 28, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - China's manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in March, official data showed Saturday.

The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index came in at 51.5 this month, accelerating from 50.3 in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction.

China's non-manufacturing sector expands faster in March

BEIJING - China's non-manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in March, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Saturday.

The non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index came in at 54.6 this month, up from 54.4 in February.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction.