By Greg Gao

(JW Insights) Oct 24 -- Over 95% of Apple’s products are assembled in China and Apple has fostered a thriving supply chain in China over the past 30 years, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, recently stated in an interview.

Cook emphasized that Apple aims to establish a "win-win" partnership with its supply chain companies, extending beyond manufacturing and business-related collaborations to encompass areas such as environmental protection, corporate social responsibility, and education.

China's Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Jin Zhuanglong, met with Apple CEO Tim Cook in Beijing on October 19, and they exchanged views on Apple's development in China, industrial chain supply chain cooperation and other issues, according to MIIT's WeChat public account.

Jin expressed his delight in Apple's continued presence and investment in China during a meeting with Cook in Beijing. He also hoped Apple further enhance the depth and level of cooperation with China, actively participate in China's new industrialization process, and achieve mutual benefits.

Cook said Apple is willing to actively participate in the high-quality development of China's economy, continue to promote green and intelligent manufacturing in China, enrich the developer ecosystem, and support the growth of industry chain and supply chain partners.

This autumn, Apple introduced its first carbon-neutral product, the Apple Watch S9. Cook mentioned that, with the goal of achieving complete carbon neutrality by 2030, the company is taking action in the areas of electricity usage, materials, and transportation.

Apple also announced a donation of RMB25 million($3.4 million) to the China Rural Revitalization Foundation on October 17, further increasing its support for helping farmers, empowering students, and revitalizing rural communities in China. The additional donations will be used to help farmers learn new skills to grow their businesses, and provide technology and digital education resources to empower students and teachers in rural areas.

Since Tim Cook took the helm at Apple in 2011, the company has been working diligently to increase collaboration with the Chinese industry. He has personally visited supplier factories in China multiple times and has made two visits to China this year.

Meanwhile, in the face of pressures from the U.S.-China tech rivalry and to mitigate supply chain risks, Apple has been diversifying its supply chain layout in recent years, with a particular focus on countries like India and Vietnam. The company has increased iPhone assembly and production in India, considering it one of their most important products.