BEIJING, August 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- For Each of the 51 Chinese Gold Medals, Haier Builds a Primary School in China

Haier, the world's fourth largest white goods manufacturer and the official white goods sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, will build 51 Olympic Hope primary schools in 25 provinces around China as part of the "One Gold Medal, One Olympic Hope School" program. 15 schools are to be built in Beichuan, the Sichuan county that was devastated by the May 12, 2008 earthquake.

Haier announced its "One Gold Medal, One Olympic Hope School" program in 2007. For each Chinese gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Haier would build a primary school in China in partnership with Project Hope, a non-governmental organization sponsored by the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF). The organization aims at supporting education in China's poverty-stricken areas.

On the last day of the Beijing Olympics, China won 2 additional gold medals, bringing the total number to an impressive 51. In a brief ceremony at Haier's Experience Center in Beijing, the Company announced together with 3 Chinese weightlifting gold medalists the location of the 51 Olympic Hope primary schools. In addition to the 15 schools to be built in the earthquake's epicenter location in Beichuan county, Sichuan province, 7 primary schools will be built in Haier's home province, Shandong. Others will be built all over the country, including Gansu, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Henan, Ningxia, Guizhou, Hainan and Heilongjiang.

Haier has been a long time partner of Project Hope and contributed more than USD3 million in funds and USD19.56 million in materials for the Hope Project so far. By the end of 2007, Haier had built 77 primary schools in 24 provinces, allowing 40,000 students to return to school.

"Thanks to the great efforts from the Chinese athletes, more than 30,000 children from poor areas in China will be able to go back to school and strive for a better future, like the athletes strived for their Olympic success. Building Hope Schools is an essential part of Haier's social responsibility program. Haier is proud of Chinese athletes, and hope they will be an inspiration for the students who will benefit from the Haier Olympic Hope School program," said Haier Group SVP Mr. ZHOU Yunjie,

"Winning an Olympic gold medal was my dream. Children dream in poor areas to go back to school. I am so glad that my victory will help children realize their dream. It gives an additional meaning to my gold medal," said Ms. CHEN Xiexia, China's 1st gold medalist of the Beijing Games in the Women's weightlifting 48kg category, at Haier's Experience Center's ceremony.

Please find Haier Olympic video information via this website: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/haier

About Haier Group Co. Ltd

Founded in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, in 1984 under the leadership of ZHANG Ruimin, its current Chairman and CEO, Haier Group Co. Ltd. is the world's fourth largest white goods manufacturer. Haier is one of the best known Chinese brands in the world, with distribution in over 160 countries. Haier employs 50,000 people, including 10,000 outside China.

For more information, please contact: Ms. HAN Xiaohua Haier Group Co. Ltd. Tel: +86-150-1037-8047 Email: hxh@haier.com Mr. Simon VERICEL Hill and Knowlton China Tel: +86-10-5861-7570 Email: simon.vericel@hillandknowlton.com.cn Web site: http://www.haier.com http://www.thenewsmarket.com/haier

Ms. HAN Xiaohua, Haier Group Co. Ltd., +86-150-1037-8047, or hxh@haier.com; or Mr. Simon VERICEL, Hill and Knowlton China, +86-10-5861-7570, or simon.vericel@hillandknowlton.com.cn