On March 24, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, to discuss the future of Apple’s business operations in China, along with broader Sino-US economic and trade relations. The meeting highlighted the strong potential for deepening investment and collaboration between China and the United States.
Wang Wentao emphasized China’s resilience and economic vitality, noting that the country has become an innovation hub with vast development opportunities. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding its openness to the world, offering foreign enterprises a fair competitive environment. He invited Apple to further invest in China, integrate more into the local market, and take part in policies designed to boost consumption and economic growth.
Wang also spoke about the importance of economic cooperation between China and the United States, urging both nations to avoid trade wars and protectionism. He argued that decoupling and breaking supply chains would negatively affect all parties involved, causing significant uncertainty in the global economy. He expressed China’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States to create a more stable policy environment for businesses.
In response, Tim Cook praised Apple’s long-term success in China, describing the company’s operations as an example of mutually beneficial trade relations. He reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to increasing its investment in areas such as supply chain development, research and development, and social welfare in China. Cook further emphasized that the business community plays a key role in fostering stable and healthy relations between the two countries, and Apple is keen to contribute to this cause.
The meeting underscored the mutual interest in fostering deeper economic ties and ensuring the continued growth of both nations’ business environments.
