SHANGHAI, March 23 (Reuters) - China's commerce

minister, Wang Wentao, met with Apple ( AAPL ) chief executive

Tim Cook on Friday, exchanging views on Apple's ( AAPL ) development in

China, and Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations, the ministry

said.

The meeting came a day after Cook opened Apple's ( AAPL ) newest

store in Shanghai, as the phone maker battles falling iPhone

sales in China and rising competition from domestic rivals such

as Huawei.

Wang said that China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is

a stabilising force for bilateral relations, and that China is

willing to work with the United States to create a fair, stable

and predictable environment for business cooperation between the

two countries, according to a ministry statement on Saturday.

Cook is expected to attend the China Development Forum in

Beijing next week, a gathering of foreign CEOs with top Chinese

policymakers.