The Vietnamese of Chinese origin community has markedly contributed to the socioeconomic development in Vietnam, especially in southern Ho Chi Minh City, said a local official.

Accounting for over 8 percent of the city's population, the community has made important contributions to the city's development, local newspaper Vietnam News on Friday quoted deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee, Le Hoang Quan, as saying.

Now, Chinese-Vietnamese own 23,125 enterprises or 30 percent of the total private firms in Ho Chi Minh City. In some districts, their businesses make up 40-70 percent of the local production value, Quan said, adding that Chinese entrepreneurs have taken the lead in updating technology and expanding production and business.

The community annually organizes festivals to introduce and preserve their traditions and cultural identity that diversify the culture of Vietnam, he noted.

The Chinese-Vietnamese in the city have also actively participated in charity movements. Last year, they raised more than 7 billion Vietnamese dong (443,000 US dollars) to help nearly 6,000 low-income households and build school and communications networks in poor communes.

The local authorities have paid due attention to the subject of Chinese language in schools. Now, the language is taught in 23 primary and high schools in the city.

Vietnam houses about 1 million residents of Chinese origin, half of them are living in Ho Chi Minh City. Nearly 600 Chinese- Vietnamese in the city have been admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam over the past 10 years.

Source: Xinhua