PARIS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- "Today, China's competitive advantage in the global supply chain is built on quality, innovation and stainability. Therefore, we are confident in China's resilience and long-term competence and competitiveness," Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L'Oreal Group, one of the world's biggest cosmetics companies, has said.
Speaking of the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic in an interview with Xinhua earlier this week, Agon said, "With China's continuous opening-up, acceleration of consumption and people's shared aspiration for better lives, we firmly believe that China's economy will remain robust."
He told Xinhua that experiences of similar situations in the past, such as the outbreak of SARS in early 2003, show that "after a period of disturbance, consumption resumes stronger than before."
"On top of this, the Chinese government has put in place a series of new policies to ease companies' burdens to ensure normal operation and overcome difficulties," he added.
Agon noted that the outbreak of the epidemic did have a temporary impact on the beauty market, but the business of L'Oreal in China has been gradually resuming to normal levels since its operation sites re-opened on Feb. 10.
"We are trying our best to bring business back to normal ... and doing our utmost to ensure the quality and safety of our products that are delivered to local and overseas markets," said Agon.
"Some department stores and shopping centers were closed during the Chinese New Year holiday and decided to postpone re-opening according to the government's notice to safeguard people and consumers' health and safety. They are gradually resuming business," he added.
The head of the world's leading beauty group hailed China's efforts to curb the epidemic. "We are impressed by the Chinese government, which has taken effective and appropriate measures to contain the epidemic and better protect people's health and safety," he said.
"We are deeply impressed by the determination, speed and pragmatism of the Chinese government to best contain the spread of the virus, as well as the discipline, solidarity and heroic spirit of the Chinese people, the dedication of experts, medical professionals and even the army to fight together," he added.
As to the group's employees' health and safety, Agon told Xinhua that a task force for internal control and management was set up before the Chinese New Year holiday to closely monitor the outbreak's progress.
"I have personally been in close contact with our China CEO to keep following up on the epidemic's progress and the status of all our Chinese employees. And we are very happy that all our employees in China are safe and healthy," he said.
The group has donated 5 million RMB (about 725,000 U.S. dollars) to help China fight the epidemic.
"We are going to make continuous efforts to support the containment of the epidemic, as well as the recovery," said Agon. "As a foreign company that feels so close to China, L'Oreal will always be fully supportive and united with China and the Chinese people, especially at such a special time."
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