Tim Cook Wants to Bring Apple Pay to China, Says It's a 'Really Key Market'

Apple CEO Tim Cook gave an exclusive interview to Xinhua before ending his four-day visit to China.

On the trip, Cook visited with Chinese vice premier Ma Kai to discuss privacy and security. Cook described the discussion as "very open", "fascinating" and "impressive", but he declined to provide specifics. The discussion comes following reports that Chinese authorities are using a 'man-in-the-middle attack' to gather usernames and passwords from Chinese iCloud Users.

Cook also paid a visit to the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou City, snapping a picture with a factory worker. Some media outlets apparently interpreted his visit as encouragement for Foxconn to produce even more units for the China market.


The Apple CEO also spent time advocating for Apple Pay and Apple Watch, long before they will reach Chinese users.

"We want to bring Apple Pay to China," he said, "I'm convinced there will be enough people that want to use it. It's going to be successful."

"China is a really key market for us," said the CEO, "Everything we do, we are going to work it here. Apple Pay is on the top of the list."

In regards to the Apple Watch, Cook says that its potential is "enormous" because even people from Apple who have been conceptualizing it for three years have not thought of all the possibilities.


"We are going to wonder how we ever lived without it," said Cook, "That's the real test of a great product: you wonder how you live without it. And I think that's going to happen to the Apple Watch."

As for future plans in China, Cook said Apple expected to increase its Apple Stores from its current 15 to 40 in two years.

He also focused on Apple's SEED (Supplier Employee Education and Development) Program. The program was launched in 2007 and has 18 participating sites worldwide with over 280,000 employees taking free courses in accounting, English, web design, and flower arranging.

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