The monthly purchasing managers' index by the Chinese Federation of Logistics and Purchasing climbed last month to 51.7 from 51.2 in October. The last time the index was at this level was July 2014.

A separate index compiled by financial publication Caixin showed that factory activity eased from the previous month but still maintained a robust pace. The index slipped to 50.9 from 51.2 previously. The two indexes are based on a 100-point scale with the 50-point mark separating expansion from contraction.

In another upbeat sign, service sector activity gained further momentum as the official non-manufacturing PMI rose to its highest since June 2014, climbing to 54.7 from 54.0.

Both the official and private indexes for the country's outsize manufacturing sector are seen as important proxies for the wider Chinese economy, which posted steady growth of 6.7 percent in the latest quarter.

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