(April 7, 2003; Xian, China) To show its support of continual environmental protection in China, BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, announced today its donation of 50,000 RMB and two metric tons of Luquasorb, a plant growth enhancer, to the Rising Dragon Forest in Xian, capital city of the northwestern Shaanxi Province. The total value of the donation is close to 100,000 RMB.

"BASF has been acting responsibly by linking our economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility -- the three cornerstones of our sustainable development principle," Dr. Dietmar Nissen, President of BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Ltd. said. "I am glad that we can contribute positively to this enchanting Xian City. We need to take an active role in enabling natural habitats and ecological richness to be passed onto future generations."

Inaugurated last year, this reforestation campaign was made possible by the Association of Foreign-invested Enterprises under MOFTEC (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economy Commission), Shaanxi Provincial Government and generous support from leading multinationals like BASF.

"Our products are world renowned for innovativeness. Now they can make a difference to people’s quality of life by improving the natural ecosystem here," added Dr. Friedrich Seitz, Managing Director of BASF China Limited.

Luquasorb is one of those 8,000 products produced by BASF in some 38 countries around the world. BASF’s Luquasorb is a polyelectrolyte-based plant growth enhancer. It can absorb up to 1,000 times its volume in water and act as a reservoir for plants during dry seasons. By increasing the plants’ size, Luquasorb loosens the soil bed and improves aeration, thus enhancing air supply as well. Trees planted this year will be able to survive and prosper next year despite the harsh surroundings of the Yellow Plateau.