Apple CEO Tim Cook took to Weibo on Wednesday, March 20, to announce that he is visiting Shanghai.

The visit comes after a recent announcement by the iPhone maker about the opening of a new retail store in the bustling Chinese financial hub. This move comes at a crucial time for Apple, as it faces challenges of declining iPhone sales in China and increasing competition from local competitors like Huawei. 

Tim Cook Visits Shanghai

The new Apple retail shop, situated in the Jing'an area of the city, is scheduled to open on Thursday, March 21, as stated in a press statement issued earlier this week.

The video that was linked to Cook's post showed him enjoying breakfast with Zheng Kai, a Chinese actor and TV personality, while strolling around one of the city's famous tourist areas.

Launching products, opening facilities, and meeting with local authorities are common activities for Cook during his many travels to China--an important market and manufacturing base for Apple. The expansion of Apple's research labs in Shenzhen and Shanghai was also announced earlier this month.

Last year, Cook made at least two visits to China, which is Apple's third-largest market in terms of revenue. Last year, he made a trip to Beijing and took the opportunity to visit an Apple store and participate in the China Development Forum. 

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Apple's iPhone Sales in China Decline

The news of his most recent trip coincides with claims that Apple's iPhone sales in China fell 24% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same time in 2023.

According to CNBC, analysts speculate that rising rivalry from local companies like Huawei and unusually large shipments by Apple at the beginning of 2023 contributed to the sales slump.

Reports that the iPhone 15's sales in China were lower than the previous model prompted Cook to visit the nation in October of last year. That visit occurred one month after news broke that workers at key government institutions in China were forbidden from using iPhones at work. The claims were disputed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry later on.

Meanwhile, in a preliminary settlement that was filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, last week, it was reported that Apple had agreed to pay $490 million to end a class-action lawsuit.

According to the complaint, there were allegations of deception by Cook regarding a significant drop in iPhone sales in China during November 2018. 

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