China's foreign exchange reserves decreased by 28.57 billion U.S. dollars to 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars in February, the lowest since December 2011, central bank data showed. The decline was smaller than a drop of 99.5 billion U.S. dollars in January, according to data published by the People's Bank of China on its website.

China's foreign exchange reserves have fallen four months in a row as the central bank dumps dollars to ease depreciation pressure on the yuan and prevent an increase in capital outflows.

"There is no basis for persistent yuan depreciation," central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said in late February, adding the decline of China's foreign reserves is only a period of overshooting.

The country's gold reserves stood at 71.01 billion U.S. dollars at the end of February, up from January's 63.57 billion U.S. dollars.