BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- German chemical company BASF SE set up a community group in southwest China's Chongqing municipality last month to seek the opinions of local residents regarding a massive chemical plant project that is being invested in by the company.

Local residents have showed strong opposition to the Chongqing BASF project out of environmental concerns, with support from environmental activists in both China and other countries.

Situated on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the multi-billion dollar chemical plant may pose a threat to the property and people located near the middle and lower stretches of the river, according to domestic and overseas environmentalists.

A BASF media relations official said the company has acknowledged the public's concerns and the company's community group is just the latest step the company has taken to deal with the situation.

As a leading chemical company, BASF has sufficient experience and expertise in preventing environmental pollution, the official said.

Over the past decade, BASF has established a children's laboratory program to foster a love of chemistry in China's younger population. The program has thrown events in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, attracting over 100,000 children.