Apple CEO makes 2nd trip to China in 2024

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA(AA) - Apple head Tim Cook visited China for the second time in 2024 amid speculation about the domestic launch of the company’s on-device artificial intelligence (AI) system, the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.

Cook took to social media to announce that he met Chinese university students using Apple products to boost sustainable farming practices as the iPhone-maker works to bolster declining sales in one of the largest markets.

In recent years, however, sales of the world’s leading phone-maker in China have come under pressure from homegrown competitors like Huawei.

Apple is expected to soon release the latest update to its mobile operating system, iOS 18.1, for the iPhone.

In a video posted to the microblogging platform, Weibo, Cook alongside renowned fashion photographer Chen Man, was seen exploring a historic district in Beijing.

"It's great to be back in Beijing," Cook wrote in the caption of the video.​​​​​​​

He also visited an Apple store in downtown Beijing to meet customers and local staff.

With a 5% jump from a year ago, Apple reported a $21.4 billion profit in the three months ending in June, on $85.8 billion in revenue over the period.

Cook last traveled to China in March, when he opened a new store in Shanghai and attended a forum in Beijing alongside other top executives.​​​​​​​