Apple CEO Tim Cook meets China’s information technology minister as Beijing demands app store compliance
- Cook said Apple will continue to support its supply chain partners, and will create a better ecosystem for developers in China, according to MIIT
- In August, the ministry issued a notice requiring all apps in China to register with Chinese authorities by the end of March 2024
In a meeting on Thursday with Jin Zhuanglong, who heads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Cook said Apple will continue to support its supply chain partners in China and help them grow, and that it will create a better ecosystem for local developers, according to a statement from the ministry.
In August, the MIIT issued a notice requiring all apps in China to “register” with mainland authorities by the end of March 2024. Apple later updated its app store rules asking app developers to obtain proper Chinese licensing before they could be available for downloads, a move that fanned concerns that domestic consumers’ access to foreign apps would be denied.
The ministry’s statement about Cook did not mention the new app rules.
According to the statement, Cook said Apple would actively be involved in China’s high-quality development and contribute to building an eco-friendly and intelligent manufacturing industry in the country.
Jin said in the meeting that he hoped Apple would continue to invest in China, and achieve a “win-win” by taking part in the industrial upgrade of the country. He also noted China would further open up to the global economy as it recently announced the removal of restrictions against foreign investment in the manufacturing industry.