Xi Jinping says China must quicken pace of tech self-reliance to prevent being ‘strangled by foreign countries’
- China should strive to become a global leader in scientific and technological fields, President Xi Jinping tells Politburo group study
- Xi says the nation must accelerate the construction of a ‘new development pattern’ or it risks being contained by foreign countries
President Xi Jinping has said China must accelerate efforts to achieve self-reliance in science and technology to cement its footing in the global supply chain and counter US decoupling efforts.
“We must quicken the pace of tech self-reliance to prevent being strangled by foreign countries,” he said at Tuesday’s Politburo group study.
“China should strive to become a global leader in important scientific and technological fields, a pioneer in cutting-edge interdisciplinary areas, and a major scientific centre and innovation hub for the world.”
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China records second-lowest economic growth figure in almost 50 years after Covid-ravaged 2022
Beijing has long wanted to shift the focus of economic growth to the domestic market and home-grown technologies, but deteriorating relations with the West have propelled self-reliance to the top of the policy agenda.