Apple invests US$500 million into opening two more Chinese R&D centers

China has been facing criticism regarding economic policies viewed as unfriendly to many foreign companies. (Source: Karishma Sheth)

Apple has announced it will open two more research and development centers in Suzhou and Shanghai. The two additional centers will join the existing two slated to open in Beijing and Shenzhen. The total cost of the investment will be at least US$500 million.

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At the same time an Apple-backed think tank of tech firms is calling for liberalization of China's economic policies, Apple has announced that it will open two more research and development (R&D) centers in China in addition to the originally planned two. By the end of 2017, Apple aims to have R&D facilities operational in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Suzhou.

According to Apple, the company hopes that the new R&D centers will help attract local talent to bolster the Cupertino company's human capital. They plan to attract students from local universities through an entrepreneur-focused internship program. The announcement comes not only on the heels of an Apple-backed think tank requesting fairer terms for foreign companies operating in China, but also directly before Apple CEO Tim Cook is slated to speak at an economic forum in Beijing this Saturday.

Apple currently faces stiff competition in China, not only from traditional arch-rival Samsung, but from home-grown companies such as Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi.