Not to mention that there is 40+ years of innovation to build on
Improved manufacturing, improved materials science, Computer aided design, etc...
They may be behind the west in these areas, but they are ahead of where the west was 40 years ago.
Add to that the fact that they probably wouldn't burden the program with as much of an emphasis on "scientific discovery" along the way to the moon. They would likely focus more on the engineering aspects...Get there first. Worry about what to do once your there after you get there...
Scott