Volkswagen chief criticizes Berlin’s China policy

The chairman of the car giant Volkswagen said to himself:concernedOn Thursday, the firm policy of the German government towards China, which in its eyes is not so favorable for the development of exchanges, in an interview with Spiegel. Germany’s economy ministry decided in May to no longer provide guarantees for Volkswagen’s investment in Xinjiang, a Chinese province where Beijing has been accused of cracking down on its Muslim minority.

“More Dialogue”

Herbert Dees said to himself.concerned about the general attitude of the German government towards China“, he told Spiegel. it is necessary”more dialoguewith Beijing, he added, warning of a possible “economic effects“by”growth, prosperity and employmentIn Germany, in case of a break with Beijing. In particular, inflationwould continue to explodeNo trade with the Middle Kingdom, the CEO said, as Western countries are already suffering from rising consumer prices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and tensions over fossil fuels since the war in Ukraine. volkswagenmust stayIn Xinjiang, where the automaker operates a plant with Chinese partner SAIC in the capital Urumqi, Herbert Diess said he was convinced. The German boss assures that there is no forced labor in this factory, noting that he sent “many managers (in place) to [s’]make sure everything is ok.Xinjiang, which has long suffered from attacks attributed to separatists and Uyghur Islamists, has been the subject of a crackdown for several years in the name of fighting terrorism.

China categorically denies “genocide“formulated by Washington, calling them “lie of the century“. But Jörg Hoffmann, head of the industry union IG Metall in Germany, who sits on VW’s supervisory board, recently raised a question.cessation of activityGroup in Xinjiang, where, according to him, there are no human rights violations.no more doubt“. China is by far Volkswagen’s biggest global market, with 40% of its car sales in the first three months of 2022.