Apple chief Tim cook meets with Chinese government

An Apple spokesman confirmed that Cook arrived in China yesterday and “had great meetings with Chinese officials” yesterday. "China is very important to us and we look forward to even greater investment and growth here," the spokesman added. No further information was shared about which particular officials Cook met with or what was discussed. It is also unclear whether Apple is looking to invest some of its $100 billion war chest into the country or continue its retail expansion, having opened a new shop in Shanghai last autumn. The chief executive of one of the world’s richest companies visited the Apple store in Xidan, Beijing, (one of the firm’s five shops in mainland China) during his trip. While at the shop, several enthusiastic Apple fans took the opportunity to have a photo with him – some of which were duly later shared on the internet. Cook is not understood to be meeting with any of the executives or lawyers representing Proview, a Chinese technology firm intent upon banning the sale of the tablet device in China, during his visit. Proview Technology, which is fighting Apple over the iPad trademark in a major legal case, has called for Chinese distributors to cease selling the tablet across the country, in the latest twist of this high profile battle, a day after Cook launched the latest model of the iPad earlier this month. The company, which claims it owns the iPad name, filed a lawsuit against Apple's use of the trademark in mainland China at the Santa Clara Superior Court last month. It has previously tried to ban the sale of the tablet in China but to no avail. However, in this latest attempt, the nearly bankrupt Proview, has sent an open letter to China’s technology supplies and resellers – asking them to stop storing and shipping the iPad. "Anybody who continues to do so will be seen as intentionally infringing rights and the company will adopt the most severe measures by taking legal action," the letter said. An attempt by Proview to win an injunction to stop Apple from selling iPads in Shanghai was foiled last month when a court there rejected the case pending the resolution of a similar lawsuit in a higher court in China Apple and Proview are now awaiting a ruling by the high court in Guangzhou on the matter. Cook’s visit also comes not long after Apple has faced criticism about the working conditions at its Chinese factory suppliers. The chief executive has ordered audits into these factories – some of which have found that staff are underage and overworked. The Apple chief has defended the company’s attempts to improve factory conditions. Cook last visited China in June 2011 when he was Apple's chief operating officer.