Volkswagen has positive view on strong EV competition in China: CEO

German automaker Volkswagen has a positive view on the strong competition in the Chinese market with local electric vehicle (EV) brands, as it drives the industry to invest and innovate, said Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blumein an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing on Tuesday.

Today, Volkswagen's network in China features 39 plants, 90,000 employees and around 50 million customers. Having built a strong foundation in the country, Volkswagen attaches great significance to the Chinese market, said Blume.

"The China market is very important for Volkswagen. We are here in China since 40 years ago. The Chinese market is developing with a high speed, very dynamic in terms of electromobility, digitalization, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving. Therefore, we are investing in our own development and software capacities. For example, 2.5 billion euros in the Anhui Province in our engineering center, but also strong investments together with our joint venture partners," he said.

The new energy vehicle market has witnessed robust expansion in China over the past few years. In 2023, electric passenger cars accounted for 69 percent of the country's sales, while plug-in hybrids gripped 31 percent.

As China's EV market maintains its strong growth momentum, local brands have also sprung up with innovative and quality products. But Blume said he's not worried about the strong competition, as it actually benefits Volkswagen and the sector at large.

"I have a very positive view on the situation of competition. The EV market is developing also very quickly in China. We are expecting in 2025, already around 50 percent [will be] new electric vehicles on the market, [including] the battery electric vehicles and the hybrids, and therefore this is a quite big market today. In some technologies, China is a leading industry, it's a powerhouse of innovations. And therefore, I think for all car manufacturers around the world, they can benefit from the Chinese speed, from the Chinese spirit in developing innovations. And so it's very positive to have strong competitors in the market, because it drives the industry, it brings the industry to invest, and it brings the industry to innovate," he said.

Blume said Volkswagen has strong expectations for its future in the Chinese market.

Last year, the Chinese market closed with around 22 million cars delivered to the customers, and by the end of 2030, the annual production is expected to increase to between 28 and 30 million cars a year, according to Blume.

Volkswagen has positive view on strong EV competition in China: CEO

Volkswagen has positive view on strong EV competition in China: CEO

Boosted by advanced medical technologies and improved administrative support, China is emerging as a major global hub for cross-border medical travel, adding a new bright spot to China's service-trade exports.

The trend is clearly evident in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, which has established itself as a key destination for international cancer treatment, drawing an increasing number of overseas patients seeking advanced, minimally-invasive care.

According to the 2025 report from China's National Health Commission, key foreign-oriented hospitals in China received 1.28 million international patients, marking a 73.6-percent increase over a three-year period.

Peng Xiaochi, a specialist physician, has witnessed a sharp rise in foreign patients over the past decade, mostly from Southeast Asia. Among them is Ronald, a patient from Indonesia seeking treatment for conditions that yielded few viable options at home.

"We combined interventional therapy and cryoablation. Phase-one results were positive," said Peng.

The personalized approach has earned high praise from Ronald, who recounted his healthcare journey.

"Yeah, the treatment is very good and very nice. The doctors are very kindful. And yeah, they helped me very good. And last week I get my first treatment, which was a little bit painful, but yeah, okay, that's normal. It's for a few days and now it's becoming a little bit better. So we will go on for the next week," said Ronald.

A sense of relief was shared by Ronald's family.

"The conditions here are great. I feel reassured seeing him get treatment here," said a family member.

Ronald's story mirrors a broader trend. For overseas patients who find few viable treatment options at home, hospitals in Guangzhou offer reliable, minimally-invasive alternatives, according to local physicians.

"Surgery went perfectly. Lesions are fully addressed," said Yang Zhiguo, an attending physician.

Ronald left the hospital about one month after his procedure, which followed new international medical policies introduced in Guangzhou on April 29 to bolster services for overseas patients.

The city announced 12 supportive measures and launched an international medical tourism service center, providing comprehensive, end-to-end assistance that includes visa support, remote pre-consultations, and streamlined cross-border payments.

Wang Wensheng, president of human resources and travel service provider Sunbright Group, said the city's new policies streamline the medical journey.

"From pre-arrival assessment to post-discharge cross-border follow-up, patients are freed from cumbersome paperwork," said Wang.

China sees rising influx of overseas patients for medical treatment