Chinese submarines are well-suited for developing nations' navies, as they boast strong combat capabilities, proven technologies and competitive prices, according to industry insiders.

"Our conventional submarines are not as technologically advanced as the best ones, but their capabilities are good enough for regional naval powers, and they all have a reasonable price," said Cui Yiliang, editor-in-chief of Modern Ships magazine.

"In the past, Chinese-made submarines have had some defects in design, materials and production techniques. However, we have begun to catch up," he said, urging Chinese shipbuilders to develop more cutting-edge technologies.