A private survey showed China's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a three-month high in February, pointing to an easing of economic downside pressure.

The Caixin/Markit PMI for manufacturing activity, released on Friday, stood at 49.9, compared with 48.3 in January, with sub-indexes of output and new orders returning to the expansionary territory.

The reading stood above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

"Overall, with the early issuances of local governments' special-purpose bonds and targeted adjustments to monetary policy, the situation in the manufacturing sector recovered markedly in February due to the effect of increased infrastructure investment," said Zhengsheng Zhong, director of Macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group.

The official PMI fell to 49.2 in February from 49.5 in January, marking the third straight month of activity contraction, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.