Tim Cook forges closer ties to China by joining board of prestigious Beijing university

In a move likely aimed at fostering high-level networking opportunities in China, Apple CEO Tim Cook has joined the advisory board of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management (SEM), according to its website (via TechCrunch).

The board includes several key politicians, including Wang Qishan, the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist party’s anti-corruption body; Chen Yuan, the Vice Chairperson of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Ma Kai, one of China’s fourth vice premiers; and Zhou Xiaochuan, the Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC.

Tim Cook has described China as a “hyper-market” for Apple, with the iPhone 5c reportedly developed largely with developing markets like China in mind, and the gold model of the iPhone 5s designed in part to appeal to Chinese buyers.