Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday emphasized the company's commitment to the Chinese market, saying that the American tech giant "could not do what it does without the Chinese partners."
Cook, who is on his third business trip to China this year, made the remarks when visiting the venue of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE).
The event is scheduled from Nov 26 to 30 at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.
"I think it's a very a great expo, a force of innovation. This is my third trip this year. And it was so wonderful to be here to see the intersection of technology, and the products. And we are very glad to be a part of it. We are very committed to China. That's the reason I am here," he said.
Although it was Cook's first time attending the supply chain expo, Apple is participating in the event for the second consecutive year with four Chinese suppliers to showcase their work.
Among Apple's approximately 200 major global suppliers, more than 80 percent of them have manufacturing facilities in China, according to information at Apple's booth at the supply chain expo.
Over the past five years, Apple has invested over 20 billion U.S. dollars in intelligent and green manufacturing initiatives within the country.
And Apple's presence at the expo was a source of pride for Cook.
"I'm thrilled to be here and I'm so proud that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners. I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them," Cook said while touring the expo in the company of Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Cook was in China last month, during which he visited Apple's retail store in Beijing's Wangfujing shopping area and a farm where iPhones and iPads are used to help farmers adopt more efficient, sustainable practices.
As the world's first exhibition with the theme of supply chain, the China International Supply Chain Expo aims to connect upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, bring together large, medium-sized and small enterprises, coordinate industry, academia, research and practical application, and foster interaction between Chinese and international businesses.
It serves four significant functions of promoting trade, fostering investment cooperation, aggregating innovation, and encouraging learning and exchange. The expo is committed to creating a new window for promoting high levels of openness, a fresh platform supporting the establishment of a new development paradigm, as well as a new vehicle for promoting the construction of an open world economy.
Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the second edition vertically showcases advanced concepts, products, and technologies of relevant industrial chains, and horizontally showcases supporting services such as finance and insurance, logistics and distribution, business consulting, and legal service.
Apple CEO stresses commitment to Chinese market
