China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong, meets with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday. Photo: snapshot from the website of MIIT.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook pledged to continue to expand the company's investment in China during a meeting with China's industry and information technology minister on Wednesday.

Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Jin Zhuanglong met with Cook in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on topics such as Apple's development in China, network data security management and cloud services, according to a statement from the website of the ministry.

During the meeting, Jin said that in recent years, China has steadily expanded its openness in the telecommunications sector, creating new opportunities for foreign companies to invest and operate in the country's huge market.

Jin emphasized that China will further expand high-level opening-up, actively promote digital industrialization and industrial digitization, and provide more opportunities and a better environment for global investors. 

Jin said he hoped that Apple will continue to deepen its engagement in the Chinese market, increase its investment in innovation and grow alongside Chinese enterprises to share the benefits of high-quality development.

Cook said that Apple is willing to actively seize the opportunities presented by China's opening-up, continue to expand its investment in China and contribute to the high-quality development of industrial supply chains.

China's continued opening-up in the telecommunications sector has created significant opportunities for international companies, including Apple, leading to increased potential for technological innovation and collaboration, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Cook also held an executive leadership meeting with China Mobile, the country's largest telecom operator, on Tuesday. Both sides engaged in discussions about digital content and collaboration on 5G products, according to a statement sent by China Mobile to the Global Times.

Both sides look forward to deepening collaboration on 5G messaging, 5G new calling and XR immersive content, which are distinctive applications of 5G. Both sides will continue to enhance their cooperation in the fields of music and VR video, delivering greater convenience and immersive experiences to users, according to the statement.

Cook is on his second trip to China this year, underscoring the growing importance of the Chinese market for the US tech giant, according to analysts.

Cook's visit to China highlights the company's commitment to actively engage in China's industrial and supply chains, which is a win-win collaboration with promising prospects, Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom industry observer, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China's digital transformation and the application of digital technologies present a significant market opportunity for Apple. Continuing to expand investment in China can provide Apple with broader development opportunities, Ma said.

Cook wrote on Chinese social media Sina Weibo on Tuesday that he visited the Apple store in Wangfujing, downtown Beijing, to meet with customers and the team. 

He said that it was great to meet with students from China Agricultural University and Zhejiang University to learn how they are using iPhones and iPads to help farmers adopt more efficient, sustainable practices.

Cook last visited China in March when he opened a flagship Apple store in Shanghai, Apple's second-largest retail store worldwide, and attended the China Development Forum in Beijing.