Apple CEO Tim Cook is one of a large number of tech leaders meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Seattle. It’s believed that the Chinese head of state is trying to enlist support from U.S. tech companies in his attempt to persuade President Obama not to implement threatened import restrictions against China. Obama had threatened the action over hacking and intellectual property theft by Chinese firms.
A report by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property earlier this year (via the WSJ) found that intellectual property theft amounted to $300B a year, much of it carried out by hacking systems belonging to U.S. firms.
It’s been suggested that President Xi Jinping wants to emphasise the interdependence between U.S. tech companies and China as both a manufacturing base and a growing market. China is already a larger market for Apple than Europe, and looks set to overtake the USA, with Apple reporting 112% revenue growth in its Q3 earnings call.
Other tech CEOs present include Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, IBM’s Ginni Rometty, Intel’s Brian Krzanich, Microsoft’s Satyta Nadella and Qualcomm’s Steven Mollenkopf.
Photo: Pool/Getty Images
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The most awkwardly standing award goes to Tim Cook.
1) Issues like this one is where Tim really shines. I look forward to the development of this.
2) Strange that there aren’t any security companies mentioned. Aren’t they included in these talks? I would have presumed so.
3) I see Mark still looks like a dork.
Ya unfortunately for Zuck you can’t buy your way out of that :D
Whew, finally we’ll be able to trust the US and Chinese governments not to hack, spy and engage in industrial espionage on themselves, us, and everyone else.