Apple CEO Tim Cook visits China as local iPhone sales remain under pressure

During a visit to China, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook emphasized the importance of the country in the company's supply chain.

Meeting with suppliers including BYD Electronics on Wednesday, Cook's trip is highlighted by local media at a time when Apple faces declining iPhone sales in China.

On his Weibo account, Cook shared his experience of walking along Shanghai's Bund river with actor Zheng Kai and enjoying a local breakfast, without revealing further details about his visit.

In an interview reported by the China Daily, Cook said that "there's no supply chain in the world that's more critical to us than China".

He also met with Wang Chuanfu, the founder and president of Apple supplier BYD Electronics, and engaged with officials from Lens Technology at their Shanghai office.

Cook's visit coincides with the announcement of a new Apple retail store set to open in the Chinese financial hub on Thursday, as Apple navigates headwinds from dropping iPhone sales and increasing competition from local brands like Huawei.

By Vahid Karaahmetovic

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