BEIJING -- China's fixed-asset investment in the transport sector grew rapidly in the first quarter of this year, official data showed.

From January to March, the sector's total fixed-asset investment jumped 52.8 percent year-on-year to 579.2 billion yuan (about $89.3 billion), according to the Ministry of Transport.

The figure climbed 18.5 percent from the same period in 2019, the ministry said.

Investment in road and waterway constructions soared 60.1 percent from a year ago to 459.7 billion yuan during the period.