Apple CEO visits Beijing amid competition from Huawei

The tech giant boosts presence in China.
Apple is reportedly in early talks to acquire Perplexity AI in a move that could reshape its position in the generative tech space.

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China’s Minister for Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong, during his recent visit to Beijing. During the meeting, Jin expressed hopes that Apple would continue expanding its presence in China, increasing innovation investments, and collaborating with Chinese companies. Apple has not commented on the meeting.

This visit marks Cook’s second trip to China in 2023. While in Beijing, he visited local sites and engaged with Chinese artists, as seen in his posts on the social media platform Weibo. Cook’s trip comes at a time when Apple faces increased competition in the Chinese smartphone market, particularly from domestic rival Huawei.

Apple launched its latest iPhones in China on September 20, the same day Huawei released its competing model. While early iPhone sales saw a 20% increase compared to the previous year, overall sales declined by 2% due to decreased interest in older models and the growing popularity of Huawei’s Mate and Pura series.