BEIJING - China praises the US House of Representatives for apologizing about discriminating laws targeting Chinese immigrants, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.

Hong said at a regular press briefing that the prosperity of the United States is indispensable from the joint efforts and cooperation from all ethnic groups, including Chinese immigrants.

The resolution gives a positive evaluation and appreciation for the contributions made by Chinese immigrants to US society, said Hong.

US House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed a resolution apologizing for discriminating laws targeting Chinese immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.

The Chinese Exclusion Act, approved in 1882 in Congress and which lasted for 60 years, was the first and the only federal law in US history that excluded a single ethnic group from immigrating to the country, and on no basis other than their race. It explicitly banned Chinese workers from immigration and existing residents from naturalization and voting.