China commerce minister meets Apple's Cook

China's commerce minister, Wang Wentao, met with Apple AAPL chief executive Tim Cook on Friday, exchanging views on Apple's development in China, and Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations, the ministry said.

The meeting came a day after Cook opened Apple's newest store in Shanghai, as the phone maker battles falling iPhone sales in China and rising competition from domestic rivals such as Huawei [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL].

Wang said that China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is a stabilising force for bilateral relations, and that China is willing to work with the United States to create a fair, stable and predictable environment for business cooperation between the two countries, according to a ministry statement on Saturday.

Cook is expected to attend the China Development Forum in Beijing next week, a gathering of foreign CEOs with top Chinese policymakers.