Rising “unilateralism and protectionism” is forcing China to rely more on itself for development and “it’s not a bad thing”, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to him, it is time for China to reduce its dependence on foreign technology, stressing the value of self-sufficiency, the South China Morning Post reported. 

“Internationally, it’s becoming more and more difficult [for China] to obtain advanced technologies and key know-how. Unilateralism and trade protectionism are rising, forcing us to adopt a self-reliant approach. This is not a bad thing,” the President said.