Asia Tech Wire (Oct 23) -- Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in Beijing on Wednesday that the company is working hard to advance the launch of its artificial intelligence system Apple Intelligence in China.

In response to when Apple Intelligence will enter China, Cook said in an interview with Chinese media outlet Jiemian, "We're working hard to push forward, and there's a very specific regulatory process behind it, and we need to go through that process, and we also want to bring it to Chinese consumers as soon as possible."

Just in time for China's annual Singles' Day shopping festival, during which many consumers will take advantage of discounted prices to buy iPhones, Cook visited China again after six months.

The U.S. billionaire's daily outings in China have made headlines on the Chinese Internet this week. On Monday Cook skipped around Beijing's hutongs with renowned Chinese photographer Chen Man, taking pictures with an iPhone.

Cook appeared at an organic farm in Beijing's Shunyi district on Tuesday, touring crops and talking to agricultural researchers about the use of iPhones and iPads in agricultural research.

And Cook visited Chinese social media company Sina Weibo's headquarters in Beijing on Wednesday.

In August, Cook said in an earnings call that Apple was pushing for the launch of Apple Intelligence in China, with the goal of providing AI services to Apple users around the world.

Many Chinese netizens speculated that Cook's trip was for the cooperation with Chinese companies to launch a Chinese version of Apple Intelligence.