Apple's CEO Tim Cook's eight visits to China

Latest visit: May 16, 2016

Apple CEO Tim Cook's latest visit to China yesterday, coming after his company's $1 billion investment in Chinese ride hailing app, Didi Chuxing. During this trip, Cook took a taxi hailed via Didi with Jean Liu, president of Didi, to meet app developers at an Apple store in Beijing. At that meeting, Cook said, "China is one of the most vibrant places in the world. There are so many entrepreneurs now that they'll drive the next generation of innovation in China."

First visit: March 2012

Cook's visit to China in March 2012 made him the first serving Apple CEO to set foot in China. During this trip, he met with Li Keqiang, then vice-premier of China, to discuss intellectual-property issues and cooperation. He also visited the headquarters of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, the three largest carriers in China.

Second visit: January 2013

During his second visit to China, Cook met with Miao Wei, head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, to "exchange views on the development of China's information and communications industry, global mobile communications, the development of smart devices and trends in innovation," according to a statement on the website of Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He also met with China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom executives to discuss cooperation.

Third visit: July 2013

Facing declining sales growth in China, Cook visited China again. He discussed cooperation with China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua and met with partner carrier China Telecom again to expand the sales path for iPhone 5C.

Fourth visit: January 2014

After officially signing a deal on Dec 23, 2013, after six years of negotiations, Cook met with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua again.