Andreas Fibig (m.), Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, presents Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (l.) with a Bayer 04 Leverkusen jersey bearing the name of the Chinese guest

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Bayer Berlin during his stay in Germany on October 12, 2009. He was accompanied by Wu Hongbo, China’s ambassador to Germany; Dr. Michael Schäfer, Germany’s ambassador to the People’s Republic of China; and a high-ranking Chinese delegation. The guests were given a tour of Bayer Schering Pharma’s Supply Center in Berlin by the Management Board Chairman of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Andreas Fibig, and the Senior Bayer Representative for Greater China, Michael König.

Fibig pointed out that China has undergone an impressive economic transformation, joining the ranks of the world’s leading economies. At the same time, China, like other countries, faces major global challenges in climate and environmental protection, sustainable economic development and health care. “Bayer, with its innovative products and solutions, can help to address and solve these challenges,” said the Bayer Schering Pharma CEO.

Referring to the research and development center to be set up by Bayer Schering Pharma in Beijing as announced in February of this year, Fibig said: “We are stepping up our research and development activities in China by investing EUR 100 million over the next five years to establish a new center of innovation.” Bayer Schering Pharma is among the leading pharmaceutical companies in China.

Bayer currently employs some 8,200 people in China, achieving sales of EUR 1.89 billion in 2008. This makes China the largest single market for Bayer in Asia.

During the tour of the Supply Center, the guests received insight into the manufacture of products for the Diagnostic Imaging and Women’s Healthcare business units. For example, they saw the production of contrast agents that allow the viewing of human tissue and organs using medical imaging techniques.