The spirit of the China Development Forum has always been to look ahead, to grasp opportunities and to shape the future. Industry at a global level is in the middle of a massive transformation, And one of the central challenges is to combine economic growth and prosperity with climate protection and sustainability.
This applies especially to the automotive industry.The BMW Group has always stood for free trade. International cooperation and the further opening of markets are the only way to solve current problems and to overcome future challenges. We should remove barriers, not create them. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration and avoid further decoupling. This is specifically important for topics such as sustainability, digitalization, and the electrification of individual mobility.
2022 is the Year of the Tiger. The tiger embodies courage and bravery.In this spirit I am confident that the new year will also symbolize resilience and strength with many opportunities to grow and succeed. 2022 also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-German diplomatic relations. It is our firm conviction that in the future close bilateral ties are key to our success.
The BMW Group truly welcomes the activities of the Chinese government to further open up its market. The recent extension of our BBA joint venture contract sends a positive signal conveying China’s opening-up policy. A Chinese proverb recommends to “add wings to the tiger” and to “act with the strength and courage of the tiger” to overcome all obstacles on our way forward.
In this sense let us join together with full confidence to deepen our ties for a shared future. I am looking forward to participating in the 2022 China Development Forum. Thank you!