May claims ‘UK will lead world in free trade’ at G20 summit

The UK will be a “global leader” for free trade following the Brexit vote, Theresa May insisted as she headed to China for the G20 summit. The Prime Minister, who faces a row with Beijing over the delayed decision on the Hinkley Point power station, maintained that it was a “golden era” for UK-China relations.

 Speaking at Heathrow before boarding an RAF plane to Hangzhou, eastern China, 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.” Ahead of talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, 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. “My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade. “I will be talking to other world leaders about the opportunities for trade around the globe that will open up for Britain following Brexit.” 

The Prime Minister hopes to use the G20 summit, where she will hold talks with world leaders including US president Barack Obama, to show that the UK remains a “dependab