(Yicai) Oct. 12 -- Tim Cook visited China for the first time in his new role as executive chairman of Apple after stepping down as chief executive of the US tech giant on Sept. 1, meeting with key officials from the economically developed province of Guangdong and expressing willingness to increase investments in the region.

Guangdong is crucial to Apple's development in China, so the company is willing to further expand its presence in the province, Cook said at a meeting with Provincial Governor Meng Fanli yesterday, according to the website of the local government. The firm aims to explore more cooperation opportunities with cities and enterprises in the province in supply chain synergy, innovation ecosystem empowerment, smart manufacturing, green manufacturing, sales channel expansion, and other areas, he noted.

Guangdong is a major global manufacturing hub, boasting a complete industrial supply chain, strong innovative vitality, and a high-potential consumer market with ample space for collaboration, Cook noted, pointing out that it brings together many of Apple's supply chain partners and ecosystem developers.

Apple is a world-renowned tech leader that has formed long-term, extensive, and in-depth cooperation with Guangdong in production, sales, and research and development, Meng said, expressing a warm welcome and support for the company to closely integrate with various sectors in Guangdong to bring more innovative products, emerging businesses, and R&D platforms and expand fields and opportunities for collaboration.

Cook stepped down as Apple CEO after 15 years in the role. During his tenure, he developed the firm's global supply chain system, which helped its revenue grow to USD416 billion in fiscal year 2025 from USD108 billion in fiscal year 2011, while its market value surged 14 times to almost USD5 trillion.

Apple's net profit soared 27 percent to USD29.8 billion in the quarter ending June 27 from a year earlier, while revenue rose 16 percent to USD109.4 billion, according to its latest financial report. Income from the Chinese market jumped 22 percent to USD18.8 billion.

Cook's successor John Ternus, who previously oversaw hardware engineering, introduced the new generation of iPhones, including the iPhone Duo, at the fall event on Sept. 9. Apple's first foldable smartphone is set to launch on Oct. 23.

Editor: Martin Kadiev