Xi Jinping urges China to greater self-reliance amid sanctions and trade tensions

China must speed up its science and technology development to ensure greater self-reliance, the country's leader Xi Jinping has told an annual political meeting, as Beijing becomes more isolated by sanctions and other trade concerns. China's technological advancement is facing global competition and increasing constraints from foreign governments such as the US, but the sector has also been hindered by Beijing's own crackdowns and controls. In a speech to a closed-door meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Sunday, Xi said greater self-reliance and strength in the science and technology field was the path to advancing "high quality development"…