BERLIN -- Volkswagen Group plans to continue operations at its plant in China's Xinjiang region despite reports of human rights violations there, CEO Herbert Diess said.
VW has a joint venture plant with SAIC in Urumqi, the capital of the region where Western nations and rights groups say ethnic Uyghurs face torture and detention.
"I believe that the presence of SAIC Volkswagen leads to the situation improving for people," Diess in comments published by the Handelsblatt newspaper on Monday.
"We travel there, and like everywhere in the world we ensure our labor standards are implemented, and that cultural and religious differences are respected," Diess said.