Carrefour supports Beijing Olympics: chairman
23/4/2008 17:31
The chairman of French supermarket chain Carrefour said yesterday that
calls for boycott of Beijing Olympics were acts with ulterior motives, and
Carrefour would make its utmost efforts to support the Olympics.
In an
exclusive interview with Xinhua, Carrefour Chairman Jose Luis Duran also denied
reports that his company supported Tibetan separatists.
Duran said China was
given the honor of hosting the 2008 Olympics, which is an opportunity for China
to present its achievements since the adoption of the opening-up policy.
The
chairman said he himself has witnessed changes in China during past years. Such
changes have also brought about joint development for Carrefour and its partners
since it entered the Chinese market 13 years ago.
Therefore, Carrefour will
go all out to support the Beijing Olympics and he will also attend the opening
ceremony of the Olympics, Duran said.
Referring to calls for boycotting
Carrefour in some cities across China, Duran expressed his understanding for the
Chinese people's emotion, saying that "Obviously, recent sabotage incidents in
Paris during the Olympic torch relay hurt feelings of the Chinese people, made
them angry and triggered their protests."
"I hope that the preparations for
the Olympics will be implemented with a harmonious atmosphere. The success of
the Beijing Olympics will benefit all the people," he added.
Duran also
expressed his condemnation over the violent activities during the April 7 torch
relay in Paris by Tibetan separatists, who attacked handicapped Chinese girl Jin
Jing and attempted to rob the torch from her for several times.
Meanwhile,
Duran denied that Carrefour's Singapore branch provided funds for Dalai Lama,
saying that "these allegations are groundless. Carrefour and its branches have
given no direct or indirect support to any political or religious
group."
"Whether in China or anywhere else, Carrefour has never done these
and will never do these," he said.
In addition, when asked about an
allegation on the Internet that Carrefour's branch in China's Wuhan City lowered
a flag to half-mast to express sympathy for Tibetan separatists after the
outbreak of the March 14 riots in Lhasa, Duran said he didn't know the
story.
Duran said if it had happened, he would express his strongest
condemnation. The chairman reiterated that as a business group, Carrefour's
headquarters, branches and any store do not interfere in internal affairs of any
foreign countries.
Xinhua
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