Tim Cook just concluded a business trip to China, during which he announced Apple's new environmental protection initiatives and met with bank executives to bring Apple Pay to China. There were also plenty of other activities worth mentioning.
On his newly-opened Weibo account, the Apple CEO shared posts and pictures about his week-long stay in the land of the red dragon. After introducing Apple's partnership with World Wildlife Fund China to reduce its virgin fiber and carbon footprint while contributing to renewable energy, on Monday, Cook went on to visit the Elementary School of the Communication University of China in Chaoyong, Beijing, which is one of the first schools to fully implement an iPad-centric curriculum similar to that of some schools in Europe and the U.S.
"Thanks to the students and teachers at the Elementary School at Communication University of China for a fascinating visit today," Cook said on his Weibo account. "It's great to see innovation making a difference in the classroom, and we're proud that iPad is a part of it."
Afterward, Cook stepped in at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound for a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, who praised Apple's "business development in China and its active cooperation with China in science, technology, education and other fields."
The next day, Cook headed to one of Apple's most popular stores in China, the one located in Xidan Joy City in Beijing, where he met with the employees and some of the customers there. Later in the day, he headed over to the West Lake Apple Store in Hangzhou in the Zheijiang Province in Eastern China, where he was joined by Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue and chief environmental officer Lisa Jackson for an Apple Watch workshop with customers.
"Breathtaking store in a beautiful city!" Cook said of West Lake.
The Apple chief concluded his Chinese tour with a visit to the Nanjing East Road Apple Store in Nanjing, also in eastern China. There, he met a customer, Mrs. Ma, from Shanghai, who has been a teacher for more than three decades and is a frequent visitor of the Apple Store.
"What an honor to meet Mrs. Ma, a Shanghai teacher for 32 years and regular at our store on Nanjing East Road," Cook said.
He capped off his mini Weibo travelogue by saying thanks to all the Apple staff and customers in China.
"Thanks to all our customers and staff for a great week in China. Zaijian!" he said.
Cook signed up for the Chinese social network earlier this week in preparation for his visit to the country. Since signing up, his account has accumulated nearly 600,000 followers in less than a week. Meanwhile, his followers on Twitter run up to 1.18 million. He hasn't been very active on the microblogging site lately, except to express his grief on the passing of legendary blues icon B.B. King.
Heartbroken by the news of the passing of #BBKing. He expressed what we felt like no one else. The thrill will never be gone. May he RIP.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 15, 2015
