WASHINGTON - China increased its holding of US Treasury securities in April for the third consecutive month, the latest data from the US Treasury Department showed on Thursday.

China added its treasuries holding by $4.6 billion in April, with the total holding up to $1.0922 trillion.

China's forex reserves stood at $3.05 trillion at the end of May, an increase of $24 billion from that recorded at the end of April, according to China's forex regulator, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).

The forex reserves expanded for the fourth month in a row in May after capital flight pressure eased and the value of the renminbi strengthened.

Japan, which overtakes China as the largest holder of US treasuries in last October, cut its holding by 12.4 billion dollars to 1.1069 trillion dollars in April.

By the end of April, overall foreign holdings of US Treasury securities dropped to $6.0737 trillion from March's $6.1023 trillion.