Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2017 shows workers carrying a monocrystalline silicon stick at a factory in Ningjin County, north China's Hebei Province. China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.6 percent in February, 0.3 percentage points higher than that recorded in January, according to data released on March 1 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

China's manufacturing sector in March stayed above the boom or bust mark for the eighth month in a row, fresh evidence of a stabilizing economy, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.8 in March, higher than 51.6 recorded in February, according to NBS data released Friday.

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

This also marked the second consecutive month that the expansion rate of the index accelerated.

Major sub-indexes posted upticks, pointing to strengthened momentum of the manufacturing sector, said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

The sub-index for production stood at 54.2 in March, higher than 53.7 registered in February.

The sub-index for new orders rose to 53.3 in March from 53 in February.