Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits New Foxconn Plant in China

From DailyTech: Apple CEO Tim Cook recently took a trip to China to meet with Vice Premier Li Keqiang and to also visit Apple's new Foxconn Zhengzhou iPhone plant.

Earlier this week, Cook met with Vice Premier Li Keqiang in order to discuss trade and economic cooperation between China and the United States. According to Xinhuanet, the vice premier asked that companies around the world "expand cooperation with China, actively participate in the development of the western part of China, pay more attention to caring for workers and share development opportunities with the Chinese side."

Cook responded positively, saying that Apple would cooperate with China and abide by requests to up Apple's participation in development in China. Likewise, Li said the Chinese government would conduct technological innovation and augment domestic demands.

After meeting with Li, Cook went on to take a tour of Apple's latest iPhone production facility in Zhengzhou. The Foxconn Zhengzhou iPhone plant in newly built and has 120,000 employees.

Cook likely made the trip due to the negative report that The New York Times published earlier this year. In January, NYT blasted Apple in its second installment of the iEconomy series, which focused on the poor treatment and harsh working conditions that employees at Apple's suppliers' Chinese factories must endure. The report cited problems like long hours, exhaustion, lengthy overtime, unsafe working environments, underage employment, and crowded living conditions at these factories. In addition, the report noted that Apple was made aware of these violations on an annual basis since 2007, but never did anything to stop it.

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