Tech giant Apple (AAPL 0.53%) doesn't need Steve Ballmer to tell it that developers matter. Although other more tangible areas of Apple's business, like quarterly shipments or carrier subsidies, are easier to track, developers provide the magic that helps keep customers coming back to Apple's iDevices time and again.

Apple paid homage to developers everywhere as part of its software-laden WWDC keynote address weeks ago. And in a parallel storyline, Apple has also made a series of moves to bolster its relationship with its key constituency.

Apple's overseas empire
Although not its largest market today, China is undoubtedly one of Apple's most important markets -- a fact that should only increase in the year ahead. And, in its efforts to continue to make inroads into China, Apple has been putting on a full-court press to woo developers in China, as well as by rolling out improved tools and increasing its in-country developer support. Investors should take notice, as gains from Chinese developers will likely directly translate into more dollars for Apple investors everywhere.

In the video below, tech and telecom specialist Andrew Tonner discusses Apple's recent moves with Chinese developers, and breaks down the financial implications of this move in greater detail.