TORONTO, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - Sino-Forest Corporation (TSX: TRE) ("Sino-Forest"), a leading commercial forest plantation operator in China, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sino-Panel (China) Investments Limited has entered into a Master Agreement for the Purchase of Pine and Chinese Fir Plantation Forests (the "Guizhou Master Agreement") with Guizhou Sen Li Industry Company Limited ("Guizhou Sen Li"), which will act as the authorized agent for the original forest rights holders.

Paper and pulp producer Sappi, which is in the final stages of closing its Usutu operations, in Swaziland, has received approaches from several interested buyers, but it could not disclose the nature of the bids at this stage.