BASF pavilion shows sustainable solutions

As an official partner of the "Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together" initiative underway in Chongqing, German chemicals giant BASF said it supports the event to assist China in finding innovative solutions for sustainable development.

The campaign will also contribute to continued good relations between the two countries, the company said, as illustrated by the success of its pavilion in Nanjing last year that hosted more than 50,000 visitors.

BASF has been doing business in China since 1885 and is now one of the largest foreign investors in the nation's chemical industry. Last year the company had sales of about 4.4 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in China. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics and agricultural products.

With its high-value products and solutions, BASF said it plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility.

"As a company with a strong commitment to China as well as sustainable development, BASF takes great pride in its role as official partner of 'Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together'," said Dr. Martin Brudermller, board member responsible for the Asia-Pacific region. "Western China is modernizing rapidly, and Chongqing is leading the way with its remarkably fast growth and development. As a chemical company we can help make this development sustainable by providing innovative solutions."

Chongqing, the largest municipality in China with over 30 million residents, is the second stop for the festival that began last year in Nanjing. From May 9 to 17, a BASF pavilion featuring sustainable urbanization will be open to the public at the "Germany Esplanade" in the city's central square.

The esplanade - a French word for walking street - is part of the three-year initiative that is traveling to cities including Nanjing, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shanghai to promote technological, scientific, academic, and cultural aspects of Germany.

BASF has designed its pavilion to feature sustainable solutions and products. "We are very pleased to invite the residents of Chongqing to our pavilion to see, and even feel, how energy efficiency and environmental awareness can go hand in hand with a modern urban lifestyle," said Johnny Kwan, chairman of BASF Greater China.

In its low-energy apartment visitors can learn about exterior insulation and finishing systems that are both energy efficient and flexible in design. They can also feel how innovative window foil helps stop sunlight from heating a room, or smell the difference made by a low-solvent, eco-friendly interior paint.

Sustainable solutions on display for the automotive industry include emission control catalysts, water-based coatings and low-weight, heat-resistant plastics that cut fuel consumption and help improve engine performance.

BASF is also continuing its education initiative Kids' Lab in Chongqing. Children between 6 and 12 years are invited to discover the world of natural science and learn about the importance of environmental protection through specially designed experiments.

Announced on August 27, 2007 in Beijing by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the "Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together" initiative is organized by the German Foreign Office in cooperation with the Goethe Institut and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business as project coordinators.

BASF is also sponsoring a sustainability forum at Chongqing University, inviting both students and faculty members in its natural sciences and engineering departments, as well as other stakeholders, to share their ideas about a sustainable future for Chongqing.

(China Daily 05/09/2008 page19)