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Apple CEO Tim Cook used his first public comments during his visit to China on Saturday to praise the country for its rapid innovation and longstanding ties with the US iPhone maker, according to local media. Apple CEO Tim Cook used his first public remarks in China in recent years on Saturday to praise the country for its rapid innovation and longstanding ties with the US iPhone maker, according to local media. Cook is in Beijing to attend the China Development Forum, a government-sponsored event that was held again in full force after the country ended its COVID checks late last year.
In addition to Cook, the event brings together top government officials and CEOs of companies such as Pfizer and BHP.
"Innovation is growing rapidly in China and I think it will accelerate further," Cook was quoted as saying by The Paper newspaper.
His visit comes at a time of rising tensions between Beijing and Washington and as Apple seeks to reduce its supply chain's reliance on China and shift production to new emerging hubs like China.
Last year, production at the world's largest iPhone factory run by Apple supplier Foxconn was badly disrupted after China's zero-COVID policies fueled worker unrest.
Cook also visited an Apple Store in Beijing on Friday, photos of which have gone viral on Chinese social media.
During his speech, Cook also touched on education and the need for young people to learn critical thinking skills in programming, and announced that Apple plans to increase spending on its rural education program to 100 million yuan, according to local media.
