Chinese people in Serbia
The number of Chinese people in Serbia according to 2011 census is 1,373. The community resides mainly in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. Most have their origin in two provinces south of the Shanghai region. None of the Chinese have Serbian citizenship.
The Chinese immigration to Serbia was prompted after former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and his wife Mira Markovic visited China in 1997. They were 30 people in August 1998. There was a rumor that Milosevic imported over 50,000 Chinese people and gave them Yugoslav passports so that they could vote for him in elections. Other rumors say that the Chinese arrived here in order to take language courses. The newspaper, Vecernje Novosti, says one part of town in particular has had a complete Chinese village transplanted into it: "The entire population of the Chinese village of Jincun, Kaihua County in Zhejiang province has moved to Belgrade, specifically to Blok 70 where they have businesses in the local center in the suburb of Novi Beograd."
The Chinese send their children to schools in China when they have reached age for primary school, to learn the Chinese language like natives, something that is important for the community.
Besides Belgrade, there is also a sizable Chinese community in the second largest Serbian city Novi Sad, which has a Chinese trade center, as well as many Chinese shops and restaurants.
Only 223 Chinese have working permits, meaning that Belgrade's 4,000-5,000 Chinese workers profit from Underground economy.
