It looks like China will soon take over the United States as far as Apple's biggest market is concerned.
Apple announced an expansion of its renewable energy and environmental protection initiative in China on Monday, May 11. The tech giant also announced a new multi-year project with World Wildlife Fund to increase responsibly managed forests across China.
The new plans announced as Tim Cook arrived in China during a trip that saw Apple's CEO join Weibo, the social network that is huge in the country.
In its recent earnings release, Apple said China is now a bigger market for iPhones than the US, and spend much of the following call talking about the country. The tech giant is expected to focus on China for much of its growth in the future, but analysts worry that it could result to people in the US and elsewhere to stop buying iPhones, according to The Independent.
Part of the move into the country was indicated by Cook's arrival there. He even established a profile on the network and quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of followers. In addition, the company also plans to lift its environmental record in the country.
Apple's environmental plans are part of its commitment to move all of its supply chain to 100 percent renewable energy. Many of Apple's suppliers are in China and also, concentrating on China as a market for iPhones and other products, it looks like Apple is moving its environmental aspirations there too.
Apple is also in talks with Chinese banks and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on launching its mobile payment system in China, Cook told the official Xinhua news agency in an interview published on Tuesday.
During his first visit to China, Cook told Xinhua that the company very much wants to get Apple Pay in China, The Indian Express noted.
Jack Ma, Alibaba executive chairman, confirmed that the Chinese e-commerce giant was open to working with Apple on Apple Pay back in Oct. Alibaba affiliated Alipay is China's largest payment service.
Considering that Apple sold more iPhones in China than in the US in the first three months of the year, analysts expect China to take over the Americans to become Apple's biggest market.
