Tim Cook Visits Chengdu for Apple 50th Anniversary Event

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Chengdu, China, on Wednesday to attend a celebratory event at the company's Taikoo Li retail store, marking the 50th anniversary of Apple Inc. The appearance, part of a global series of events, featured a performance by Chinese singer Li Yuchun and drew crowds of customers and fans for interactions and photographs.

The event unfolded in the evening local time, with Li Yuchun performing on a multilevel stage accompanied by dancers. Cook joined the festivities, posing for photos with attendees and capturing images of the crowd using his iPhone 17 Pro Max. Social media clips showed him engaging with celebrities and shoppers, highlighting Apple's efforts to connect with consumers in one of its largest markets. This followed a surprise concert by Alicia Keys at Apple's Grand Central store in New York the previous week and preceded similar anniversary activities in Seoul.

Cook's trip underscores Apple's deepening ties to China amid ongoing regulatory discussions. Earlier this month, on March 15, Apple lowered its standard App Store commission rate for iPhone and iPad apps and in-app purchases in mainland China from 30 percent to 25 percent. Fees for...