The chief executive of Adidas, the second largest producer of world sporting goods, told German media that the group wanted to pfer some of its production to a more competitive country because of its higher wage level in the future.

In China, wage levels are determined by the government and have gradually increased, he said.

At present, the production of Adidas shoes in China accounts for half of the total output of the group, and will gradually decrease thereafter.

The president said Adidas has established its first plant in India and will then expand to Laos, Kampuchea and Vietnam.

At the same time, the group will resume production in the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, but it will not be produced in Germany.