Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company highly values its Chinese partners during a tour of the venues for the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on Monday ahead of the event.

"I'm thrilled to be here. I'm so proud that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners," Cook said, as he was accompanied by Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), on an advance tour of the exhibition booths at CISCE.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin tour the 2nd CISCE exhibition venue in Beijing, Nov. 25, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Cook continued: "I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them. We are very committed to China — that's the reason I've been here three times."

At the expo's main venue, Tim Cook visited Apple's booth, marking the company's second participation in CISCE. Apple highlighted innovations in AI and green transition through a joint booth at the event with four Chinese suppliers, showcasing components and technologies related to flexible production, green technology and optical products.

China remains crucial to Apple's global supply chain, with over 80% of its 200 major suppliers operating factories in China, supporting the production of a wide range of Apple products.

This is Cook's third trip to the Chinese mainland this year and his first to CISCE. "I think it's a very great expo, a tour de force of innovation. It feels wonderful to be a part of it," he said.

CISCE, the world's first national-level exhibition focused on supply chains, hosts over 600 companies from around the world this year, including a significant number from the U.S. 

Taking place from Nov. 26-30 in Beijing, the expo is showcasing six key industrial chains and one exhibition area: Advanced Manufacturing Chain, Clean Energy Chain, Smart Vehicle Chain, Digital Technology Chain, Healthy Life Chain, Green Agriculture Chain, and the Supply Chain Service Area.