Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that he is currently visiting Shanghai, according to a post on his Weibo account on Wednesday. Cook said he spent the morning walking along Shanghai's historic Bund River with Chinese actor Zheng Kai and having a local breakfast, but did not reveal what his other plans were for this visit to China.
His visit comes after the iPhone maker announced it will open a new retail store in the heart of China's financial center on Thursday, and as Apple struggles with declining iPhone sales in China and increasing competition from domestic rivals such as Huawei. Cook made at least two visits to China, Apple's third-largest market by revenue, last year. He also traveled to Beijing around the same time last year, visiting an Apple store and attending the China Development Forum.
Cook's visit to Shanghai is a sign of Apple's continued commitment to the Chinese market, despite recent challenges. The new Apple store in Shanghai will not only be a symbol of the company's physical presence in the country, but also a proof of its long-term investment and commitment to China. New stores in China could also help Apple tackle the decline in iPhone sales, as they would allow the company to reach a wider range of Chinese consumers.
This is especially important as Apple faces increasing competition from domestic mobile manufacturers such as Huawei, which have proven to be formidable competitors in the Chinese market. Cook's visit to Shanghai and the opening of the new Apple store can therefore be seen as part of Apple's strategy to revive its growth in China and strengthen its position as one of the country's leading technology companies.