AppleInsider Staff
Apple chief executive Tim Cook met with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Tuesday in Beijing, the latest in a string of meetings between Cook and high-level Chinese leaders as the company looks to expand sales and operations in the world's most populous nation.
Liu — the highest-ranking woman in the Chinese government — praised Apple for its "business development in China and its active cooperation with China in science, technology, education and other fields," according to state-run news agency Xinhua. Apple manufactures most of its products in China and operates a major research and development center in Shanghai.
She asked Cook to continue expanding Apple's investments in China and to work to help further ties between China and the U.S.
Cook reportedly reiterated that China is an important market for Apple, and indicated that his company is "willing to play a constructive role in U.S.-China cooperation in science and education innovation."
Cook arrived in China earlier this week, just as Apple announced an expansion if its renewable energy program to its supply chain. As part of that initiative, Apple will buy and manage — Â along with the World Wildlife Fund — Â 1 million acres of forest to provide raw fiber for packaging and materials.
The Apple chief previously visited China last fall, touring factories owned by contract manufacturing partner Foxconn and meeting with Vice Premier Ma Kai. Cook later hosted top internet regulator Lu Wei at Apple headquarters in Cupertino in December.
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18 Comments
Tim Cook might not be the most powerful man in the world, but I believe he is the most influential man in the world. He's met more leaders from around the world than our current US president. Cook has been doing some great things and I personally trust apple to do the right thing at home and around the world with their billions than I do the US gov taxing apple and then using money for failed companies. I haven't completely thought this through, but I am realizing the important roll apple plays for technology and improving human life everywhere in the world and I really hope history will really look closely at Apple and all it's contributions and leadership.
Hmm...did Cook scold her on China's treatment of gays? Or does that not matter because Apple needs China more than it needs Indiana.
Rogifan: From wikipedia: Adult, consensual and non-commercial homosexuality has been legal in China since 1997, when the national penal code was revised. Homosexuality was removed from the Ministry of Health's list of mental illnesses in 2001 and the public health campaign against AIDS-HIV pandemic does include education for men who have sex with men. Officially, overt police enforcement against gay people is restricted to gay people engaging in gay sex acts in public or gay prostitution, which are also illegal for heterosexuals
Apple will be in a great position to increase investment in China, as all those new sales $$$ from Chinese customers are easier to spend over there than bring back here.
[quote name="Rogifan" url="/t/186225/apple-ceo-tim-cook-talks-science-education-with-chinas-vice-premier#post_2722547"]Hmm...did Cook scold her on China's treatment of gays? Or does that not matter because Apple needs China more than it needs Indiana.[/quote] It isn't relevant. You have to "know when to hold them, and know when to fold them" as the song goes. Nothing Cook can say, or do, will change policies of countries. Look at Russia. A statue of Jobs was taken down because Cook stated he was gay. They said they wouldn't allow him in the country. That's much worse than China. Are you saying that Apple should pack up and leave both countries? What then?