BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China's crude oil output edged up 0.6 percent year on year to 47.35 million tonnes in the first quarter, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.

The pace of growth was up from a 2 percent drop in the same period last year.

In March alone, China's crude oil output rose 2.1 percent year on year to 16.54 million tonnes, up from a 0.5 percent rise in the first two months.

Meanwhile, China's natural gas output totaled 44 billion cubic meters in the first quarter, up 9.4 percent year on year.

China aims to increase domestic crude oil output to 200 million tonnes by 2020. Major tasks for the oil industry include accelerating exploration to ensure domestic oil supply, speeding up construction of pipeline networks and developing clean alternatives.