Chinese wireless operator China Unicom is in talks with Apple to renew their partnership for the iPhone beyond the three-year agreement that they first signed in June 2009, reports “TNW” (http://macte.ch/Eyzb2).

China Unicom President Lu Yimin says that talks are ongoing, with a new deal expected to close soon as both sides are “extremely satisfied” with the success of their work together, the article adds. Unicom was Apple’s first telco partner in China.

Apple has since signed deals with China Telecom, the country’s third largest operator. China Mobile — the world’s largest operator with more than 650 million subscribers — has yet to sign on.