Apple CEO hails China's innovation capabilities

Chinese software developers' creativeness is "second to none", and more Chinese mobile applications will succeed globally with greater international influence, Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Tuesday in an interview with China Daily in Beijing.

Cook's praise highlights that China is not only a big market and manufacturing powerhouse for Apple's consumer electronics, but also a major source of innovation for the company's software ecosystem, experts said.

Boasting a growing number of well-educated and creative young people, China will be of greater appeal to global tech giants in the future, they added.

During the interview, Cook said: "I predict that more Chinese apps will become popular overseas, because the creativeness of Chinese developers is second to none. I just see more and more success coming out of China."

The global influence of Chinese apps is on the rise, he said, adding that software developers in China have such great passion that it is "unbelievable".

Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said, "Chinese developer teams, whether large or small, are setting their sights on the global stage for growth opportunities."

"From day one, they are targeting the global market. This stands in contrast to the past, when they did not dare to explore overseas markets until they had succeeded domestically," Pan added.

Li Songlun, CEO of Kuro Games, a Chinese game developer, said its game Wuthering Waves has received immense attention. Upon its official launch, the game topped the download charts on the Apple App Store in 107 countries and regions worldwide.

"Great games transcend boundaries, and we remain committed to delivering an even better gaming experience to our global community," Li said.

On Monday, Apple announced a new investment fund, with a pledge of 720 million yuan ($99.2 million), to expand clean energy production in China, reinforcing its commitment to transitioning its global supply chain to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

The move is designed to launch the second China Clean Energy Fund, building on the success of its inaugural program in 2018.

With Apple's anchor investment, the new fund aims to add about 550,000 megawatt-hours of new wind and solar capacity annually to China's power grid, a figure that is expected to grow as additional investors join, according to the company.

Cook said that two-thirds of Apple's supply chain in China already runs on renewable energy.

Currently, over 80 percent of the company's top 200 suppliers have a manufacturing presence in China.

Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said: "Our suppliers in China are driving world-class advancements in smart and green manufacturing. … I'm excited about the future and what the next 30-plus years will bring in China."

Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that China possesses unmatched manufacturing capabilities, and the country's focus on innovation-driven growth strategies will further enhance its significance in fueling the expansion of global technology leaders, including companies like Apple.