TMTPOST -- Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook on Thursday told Beijing his company would not only help boost China’s development but also play a role in better relationship between the world’s top two economies.

Credit：China's Commerce Ministry

During his meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Thursday, Cook said Apple will continue to deepen its engagement in China and actively participate in China's high-quality development, according to a statement from the ministry. It wrote the two sides discussed China-U.S. economic and trade relations and Apple’s business in China in the meeting.

For Cook, a sound China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is of great significance not only to both countries but also to global economic stability and development. He told Wang Apple stands ready to make positive contributions to promoting win-win cooperation between China and the United States.

Wang in the meeting accused the Trump administration of disturbing the bilateral economic and trade relationship as it intensively rolled out restrictive measures targeting China following high-level economic and trade talks between two countries in Madrid last month. These U.S. actions have severely harmed China's interests and undermined the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks, Wang said.

Wang expressed the hope that the U.S. works together with China, guided by the important consensus reached during a phone call between the two heads of state, to seek ways to address issues through equal dialogue and consultation, and to provide a more stable, predictable environment for enterprises from both countries to cooperate.

The Chinese government will steadfastly pursue high-level opening-up and continuously improve the country's business environment, enabling foreign enterprises to share in China's development opportunities, Wang said. He welcomed  to continue deepening its cooperation with China, and to increase its investment in the country.

At a press conference on Thursday, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce also slammed U.S. moves following the Madrid talks, including 20 measures to suppress China in just over 20 days, which seriously damaging China's interests and disrupting the atmosphere of the economic and trade talks between the two sides. China is strongly dissatisfied with the series of measures taken by the U.S. and firmly opposes them, which , said He Yongqian, the spokesperson.  

It is hoped that the U.S. will cherish the achievements of the economic and trade talks and immediately correct its wrong practices, said He. China is willing to properly address each other's concerns through equal dialogue on the basis of mutual respect with the U.S. side, the spokesperson said.

A day prior to the meeting, Cook met with China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Lecheng, pledging continued support for foreign companies and stronger cooperation in the electronics and information technology sectors. 

Cook thanked MIIT for its support of Apple’s operations in China and confirmed the company’s intent to increase investment and deepen cooperation with the country, aiming for mutually beneficial, win-win development, the ministry said.

Apple’s engagement in China has increasingly emphasized sustainability. On Tuesday, the company said that over 90% of its manufacturing in China is powered by renewable energy, reflecting a decade-long collaboration with more than 100 local suppliers. In addition, Apple’s Chinese suppliers recently launched a 1-billion-yuan ($150 million) investment fund to support renewable energy infrastructure projects in the country.

Cook’s recent trip to China came as Apple is preparing launch of the thinnest and lightest iPhone in the world's largest smartphone market.

Cook made a surprise appearance on a Douyin livestream Monday night, announcing that pre-orders for the iPhone Air in China will begin at 9 am on October 17, with official sales starting October 22. That marks the chief executive’s debut livestream on the TikTok’s Chinese sister platform since Apple’s flagship store on-boarded Douyin Mall in August.