Apple's CEO Tim Cook opened an account on Chinese social media network Sina Weibo on Monday, amassing more than 200,000 followers in only one hour after posting his first message.

Screenshot of Tim Cook's Weibo account

The message, written in both English and Chinese, reads "Hello China! Happy to be back in Beijing, announcing innovative new environmental programs." It has been reposted more than 15,000 times and received 20,000 comments in just one hour.

Many of Cook's new followers said they appreciate that he has joined the most active Chinese social media platform.

Apple has a huge fan base in China, evidenced by the frenzy generated by the release of its new products in the country. The profile for Cook's Weibo account features a photo that was apparently taken at one of these events.

China is now home to around 35 percent of world-wide iPhone users, topping the United States as the largest market for iPhones for the first time. Apple has also overtaken Chinese company Xiaomi for the largest share in China's domestic smartphone market, according to an industry report published Monday.

CEO Cook, who has so far been somewhat overshadowed by his more charismatic late predecessor Steve Jobs, grabbed headlines in China late last year when he announced that he is gay. His statement garnered much support in the country, where homosexuality used to be taboo but is increasingly tolerated.

Cook followed a number of foreign business and state leaders in joining Sina Weibo. Tesla's Elon Musk, who opened an account in 2014, now has more than 1 million followers in China. India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi, an active social media user, opened a Weibo account in May ahead of his scheduled visit to China later this month.

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