Britain will be a 'global leader' in trade: Theresa May's Brexit vow as she heads to G20
THERESA May has vowed the UK will be a ‘global leader’ in trade following Brexit.
The new Prime Minister made the pledge as she jetted off to China
The new Prime Minister made the pledge as she jetted off to China for her first high profile engagement since moving into Number 10.
She said: "The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business, as a bold, confident, outward-looking country we will be playing a key role on the world stage."
As the vote leaves the UK free to forge its own trade deals in the future, Mrs May praised her Chinese hosts and referred to a “golden era” for trade with the world’s second biggest economy.
She added: "This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to president Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China.
"But I will also be talking to other world leaders about how we can develop free trade around the world and Britain wants to seize those opportunities.
G20 is her first high profile engagement since moving into Number 10
"My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade."
But she looks set to face questions over a nuclear deal with the nation over the controversial Hinkley Point power station.
May: Golden era for UK-China relations ahead of G20
My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade
The former Home Secretary is expected to be grilled over the delayed decision on the nuclear plant, in Somerset, which would see China get a foothold in western Europe.
But she has ruled out making a formal announcement on the project, despite it likely to feature highly on her face-to-face talks with President Xi.
She is expected to be grilled over the delayed decision on Hinkley power station
She will sit down with the Chinese leader following the two-day G20 summit, and will also meet Russian prudent Vladimir Putin for the first time.
The new PM is expected to adopt an approach of "hard-headed engagement" with Moscow.
She will sit down with the Chinese leader following the two-day G20 summit
And trade deals are thought to be raised with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, as well as with US president Barack Obama, despite his earlier remarks Britain would be at “the back of the queue” after Brexit.