Apple plans to invest more in China, the retailer revealed following a visit by chief executive Tim Cook. China is Apple’s second-largest market after the US.

However, it has just six stores open in the country, significantly fewer than the 25 projected for 2012 by former head of retail Ron Johnson in 2010. Apple said: “China is very important to us and we look forward to even greater investment and growth here.” Apple’s iPhone customer base potential in the country has almost doubled after it signed a second carrier, China Telecom.