Mr. Walsh added, "The Yangtze Partnership has also advocated wetland conservation in 18 provinces through its Wetland Ambassador Action (WAA), a public awareness program launched across China. The WAA initiative has reached an estimated 330,000 people directly and another 3.8 million indirectly, promoting better conservation of water and wetland ecosystems since 2007. Coca-Cola is proud to say that with this added donation, the Partnership will be able to continue its important work by replenishing an estimated 1 billion liters of water per year. Through to 2013, 7 million people are expected to benefit from the WWF water esource conservation project."

"The ongoing support of Coca-Cola has been invaluable to all of our important accomplishments in the project region since 2007 and this added donation will allow us to continue our work towards enhancing freshwater supply. Our next initiative will focus on protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems, which will promote an ecological approach to river restoration and waste water treatment across key freshwater habitats in the upper Yangtze," said Dr. Zhu Chunquan, Conservation Director of Biodiversity and Operations, WWF China.

Mr. Walsh concluded, "With over 320 formalized partnerships with civic and government organizations, The Coca-Cola Company today helps protect and conserve water resources in some 86 countries. This is an issue that is integrated with our business worldwide and is a hallmark of our LIVE POSITIVELY system-wide sustainability framework. LIVE POSITIVELY is created on the foundation of our commitment to making a positive difference in the world, and it is embedded within our entire business at every level. The LIVE POSITIVELY framework consists of seven core areas key to our business sustainability: Beverage Benefits; Active Healthy Living; Community; Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection; Sustainable Packaging; Water Stewardship; and Workplace. With these objectives in mind, we will continue leveraging our core competence to address difficult issues in the Pacific region and worldwide, and create enduring, relevant solutions."