BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - Apple's ( AAPL ) iPhone

sales in China fell 24% year-on-year in the first six weeks of

this year, according to research firm Counterpoint, as the U.S.

company faced increased competition from domestic rivals such as

Huawei.

The U.S. tech giant's chief competitor in premium

smartphones in China, Huawei, saw unit sales rise by 64% in the

same period, according to the report.