Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, announced on Oct. 11 that the company will set up a research and development center in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Cook also disclosed that Apple will set up more retail shops in Shenzhen.

Cook said that Apple currently has around 100,000 employees in Shenzhen working on developing phone apps. The company hopes to seize this opportunities to expand investment in developing Apple products in China. The center will begin operation in 2017, with the aim of enhancing cooperation through local partnerships and colleges to support emerging Chinese talent.

Cook shared a photo of his visit to Apple Store at Holiday Plaza in Shenzhen

Recalling his first visit to China, Cook said Shenzhen was his first destination when he came to find a place for large-scale phone production. With recent product releases, and the new iPhone especially, sales of Apple products have soared, resulting in the request for more workers.

Apple’s research and development center in Shenzhen is expected to attract a great deal of talent and provide many jobs. Ma Xingrui, secretary of the municipal party committee in Shenzhen, said that the local government fully supports Apple, and will provide relevant services for the center.

Not long ago, Apple set up its first research and development center in China at Zhongguancun Science Park in Beijing.