Apple CEO Tim Cook made his first Beijing visit of the year to attend the China Development Forum (CDF). He joined global business leaders to explore market opportunities and reaffirm Apple's regional commitment, reports Global Times, Yahoo!, and the Standard.
During the forum, Cook announced plans to expand Apple's cooperation with the China Development Research Foundation, particularly in rural education. The initiative includes donations to support the training of rural teachers. He also revealed Apple's intention to introduce support for more languages on Apple Intelligence, including Simplified Chinese, pending regulatory approval. Additionally, Cook met with Hongbin Ren, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to discuss future collaboration.
When asked about DeepSeek, Cook praised the technology, calling his experience of the model "fantastic." In terms of the model's impact on Apple's operations and revenue, he highlighted DeepSeek's ability to reduce training and operational costs, emphasizing its potential to reshape the industry. Cook then reiterated Apple's focus on integrating hardware and software across devices and cloud services, underlining the company's ambition to advance in the artificial intelligence sector.
Cook's visit to China reflects Apple's ongoing commitment to strengthening its ties with the country. He previously attended the China International Supply Chain Expo in 2024, where he underscored the critical role of the Chinese supply chain in Apple's operations. At that event, Cook pledged continued investment in China's supply chain and research and development. Analysts view Cook's consistent engagement in these forums as a sign of Apple's dedication to maintaining and deepening its regional partnerships.
The CDF forum attracted a roster of prominent business leaders, including Siemens CEO Roland Busch, Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Kallenius, BMW chairman Oliver Zipse, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Boeing vice president Brendan Nelson, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing, and XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng. Discussions at the forum centered on promoting economic development and fostering global economic stability.
Rumors suggest that foreign business leaders attending the forum will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on March 28. The discussions are expected to focus on China's strategies to attract foreign investment and strengthen international business relationships.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
