LUDWIGSHAFEN (dpa-AFX) - Following the "chemical summit" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), BASF Group has spoken out in favor of closer cooperation. The talks were "extremely important," but "only a first step towards a chemical pact between industry, trade unions and politics," BASF board member Melanie Maas-Brunner announced Wednesday. She said the company would continue to work actively on this. "Only if the chemical industry's competitiveness is quickly restored will we be able to fulfill our many future tasks at the German site."/wo/DP/men