BEIJING, Jan 22, 2007 – The National Basketball Association and Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy Industry Group today announced a new marketing partnership to promote a healthy lifestyle to young people throughout China by utilizing Mengniu’s and the NBA’s expertise in nutrition and sports respectively.

NBA China Vice President and Managing Director Mark Fischer, Vice President of Mengniu Group, Mr. Bai Ying, NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin and 20 children from the Huairou Baoshansi elementary School gathered in Beijing to make the announcement.

As the new marketing partner of the NBA in China, Mengniu will be the “Official Dairy Product of the NBA in China.” The NBA and Mengniu will launch a series of social programs targeting 500 elementary schools across China that will combine nutrition and sports to provide children with a healthy diet and physical well being.

“By partnering with the leading dairy producer in China, we have a unique opportunity to promote the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle through sports and nutrition.” said NBA China Vice President and Managing Director Mark Fischer. “With a common passion for community service, Mengniu and the NBA will be able to reach the hundreds of millions of NBA fans in China.”

“To Mengniu, the word ‘health’ has two meanings. It is how premium milk can nurture a strong physique and also how sports help to encourage a healthy and happy lifestyle,” said Mr. Bai Ying, Vice President of the Mengniu Dairy Group. “As the world’s leading sports brand, the NBA signifies a spirit that goes beyond the self, one that is strong and determined. Mengniu shares a similar corporate culture thus making this the perfect partnership that redefines the meaning of ‘health’ by adding passion and excitement to it.”

“As a professional basketball player in the NBA, I was not only taught the skills and technique necessary to succeed on court but also the importance of nutrition and healthy diet,” said NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin. “I am excited to see the NBA partner with Mengniu, China’s no.1 dairy producer. This will certainly help to spread the message of sports and nutrition and lay the foundations of building up a strong and healthy younger generation.”

In 2007, Mengniu will continue its “Daily Milk Giveaway Program” for 500 elementary schools in selected Chinese provinces, of which its students will receive a carton of milk each morning. This program aims to encourage healthy diet and the development of a happy and active lifestyle.

Mengniu will promote its products during NBA programming, which air on 51 television stations throughout China, including nationally televised games on CCTV. Mengniu will also participate in the NBA Jam Van which visited 17 cities last year and will conduct promotions on NBA.com/china and at retail establishments across the country. In association with the league’s NBA Cares initiative, the NBA will designate certain active players or legends as “Goodwill Ambassadors” to participate in Mengniu’s goodwill programs. Mengniu will also partner with the NBA in the 2007 NBA Jam Van which is the league’s premiere interactive touring program that brings an authentic NBA experience to fans all over China.

About Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co. Ltd Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co., Ltd is the market leader in the dairy industry of China. Mengniu has more than 20 plants in 15 provinces in China. It has developed liquid milk, ice cream, milk powder, milk tablets and other products in more than 100 categories. Mengniu’s sales increased 58.7% in the first half of 2006 and achieved RMB 7.546 billion. Net profit soared 39.3%. As the only Chinese dairy company listed in Hong Kong, Mengniu’s incredibly rapid growth has attracted worldwide attention.

Mengniu was established in 1999 and took just seven years to become a multiple-champion in China’s dairy industry. It has been the sales champion of UHT liquid milk in the world and in China since 2003, became the ice cream sales champion in 2005 and has been the yoghurt sales champion for a consecutive 15 months. It is the biggest dairy products exporter in China, as well as the champion of milk-collection, with 9000 tons of milk collected per day benefiting more than 2 million farmers. It is also a champion taxpayer, with a triple-digit increase in income tax paid. Mengniu’s Telunsu brand product won the highest award in the world dairy industry, the Prize for Product Innovation, at 27th IDF World Dairy Congress; the first time a Chinese company has done so.