WASHINGTON ¨C Japan and China increased their holdings of U.S. Treasuries as overall net foreign purchases in March reached their strongest level in a year.

China increased its ownership of U.S. government bonds, notes and bills to $1.09 trillion in March, up $27.9 billion and remaining the second-largest foreign holder of American debt, according to a monthly Treasury Department report released Monday.

Japan, the largest non-U.S. holder of government debt, increased its total to $1.12 trillion, up $3.4 billion from a month earlier.

Total foreign ownership of U.S. Treasuries amounted to about $6.08 trillion in March ¡ª the highest since September but down from a peak of $6.3 trillion a year earlier. Net purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds and notes by foreigners were $24.4 billion, the data show.

Demand by overseas creditors for U.S. debt played a key role as the nation borrowed to revive its economy from the last recession.

The rise in China¡¯s Treasury holdings comes even as the nation tries to stem capital outflows and buttress the yuan through interventions in the currency market. The country¡¯s foreign currency reserves ticked up for third month to $3.03 trillion in April, after falling below $3 trillion in January. They are still down sharply from a record $4 trillion in 2014.

Belgium¡¯s ownership of Treasuries, often seen as a home to China¡¯s custodial accounts, rose in March to $109 billion.

The report, which also contains data on international capital flows, showed net foreign buying of long-term securities totaling $59.8 billion in March. It showed a total cross border outflow, including short-term securities such as Treasury bills and stock swaps, of $700 million.