"It's kind of a symbiotic relationship that I think we've both benefited from," he said in an interview about the role of technology in education, adding: "Apple and China have grown up together."
Tim Cook's speech comes as Apple, the world's largest company by market capitalization, is looking to move production operations out of China.
Sales of Apple products were penalized in 2022 by production limitations in factories due to China's so-called "zero Covid" policy.
U.S. controls on exports of high-tech components also threaten the Apple brand's supply chain. A subject that Mr. Cook did not address during this exchange.
The boss of Apple, on the other hand, stressed the need to bridge the gap in education between schools in urban and rural areas. And he also encouraged young people to learn programming and develop critical thinking.
Cook promised to increase Apple's spending on its education program in rural China to 100 million yuan (13.5 million euros).
He visited an Apple Store in downtown Beijing on Friday, taking a selfie with singer Huang Ling that went viral on Chinese social media.
© 2023 AFP