Apple to build China R&D center

Apple Inc will boost its investment in China, one of its largest but increasingly challenging markets, and build its first Asia-Pacific research and development center in the country, Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Cook made the pledge during a trip to China as demand for Apple’s iPhones has plummeted in the world’s second-largest economy and the government remains wary about foreign technology. Apple’s new research and development center will be built by the end of the year, Cook told Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. The center will unite Apple’s engineering and operations teams in China and is also intended to deepen the company’s ties to partners and universities, it said in a statement.