Apple's Tim Cook Visits China, Meets Gov't Officials

Asia is busy this week entertaining the heads of U.S. tech companies—Google chairman Eric Schmidt arrived in North Korea Monday, while Apple CEO Tim Cook landed in China on Tuesday.

During his second visit in less than 10 months, Cook met with China's Industry and Information Technology Minister Miao Wei to discuss the development of China's IT industry, global mobile communications, and Apple's business in China, according to the ministry.

No further details about Cook's trip were available and Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As media outlets made their own guesses as to why Cook ended up in the Asian nation this week, speculation about Cupertino's plans to partner with China Mobile —the world's largest cell network—was making the rounds. Currently, Apple reaches about 340 million users via China Unicom and China Telecom. A deal with China Mobile could make another 100 million or more potential subscribers available.

Cook could also be touring another Foxconn factory, where many Apple products are assembled before shipping overseas. Both Apple and Foxconn came under fire in the past few years over working conditions at Chinese factories run by the Taiwan-based contract manufacturer.

But recently, Foxconn claimed to have ZIFFARTICLE id="306385">carried out the bulk of 360 changes recommended last year by the Fair Labor Association following a tour of Foxconn facilities. The manufacturer also confirmed in early December that it will at some point add operations on U.S. soil.

Meanwhile, following a positive iPhone 5 launch in China last month and the apparent success of Apple's retail stores—eight of which are currently operating in China—Cook may be in the country to discuss launching more retail locations in the near future.

Apple has made great strides in China recently, growing 25 percent in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole in the third quarter, according to July's earnings call. At the time, China made up two-thirds of the company's revenue in the region—even before its newest iPhone hit shelves.

For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.