During his visit to Shanghai for the opening of the new Apple Jing'an store, Apple CEO Tim Cook underscored the critical role China plays in the company's global supply chain and expressed enthusiasm for continuing Apple's long-standing relationship with the country. Apple Jing'an, marking the eighth Apple store in Shanghai, is set to welcome customers on Thursday, March 21, 2024. In the lead-up to the store's debut, Cook has been actively engaging with the local community, including meeting with key Chinese suppliers such as BYD, Lens, and Everwin at Apple's Shanghai office, where these companies showcased a variety of product exhibitions.
In discussions with China Daily, Cook highlighted the indispensable nature of China to Apple's operations, stating, "there's no supply chain in the world that's more critical to us than China." Despite recent diversifications in Apple's supply chain strategy, Cook emphasized the company's nearly three-decade-long partnership with China and expressed optimism about its future, noting the significant advancements in factory technologies and pledging continued investment and development in the region.
Additionally, Cook's visit included promotional activities, such as a breakfast meeting with renowned Chinese actor Zheng Kai, which Cook shared on his Weibo page. The post, featuring a video of their time together, quickly garnered widespread attention, amassing half a million views within minutes, according to Bloomberg.
