The mainland's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) recorded its fifth consecutive rise last month to its highest in 13 months, in fresh evidence that the nation is recovering from the current economic downturn, caused by credit tightening and slowing export growth.
The official PMI, a forward-looking gauge of manufacturing activities tracked by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), edged up to 53.3 last month from 53.1 in March. It has been on a consistent recovery course from a low of 49 in November.
Readings above 50 signal expansion, below 50 indicate contraction.
The rise in April's PMI was mainly driven by the manufacturing output sub-index, which rose to a 15-month high of 57.2 from 55.2 in March.
The official PMI followed last week's HSBC Flash PMI, the earliest indicator of industrial activity, which also showed signs the economy was improving.
However, HSBC Flash PMI's reading, of 49.1 for April, down from 48.3 in March, came in below 50 for the sixth straight month.