Jeremy Hunt landed in Singapore today just days after hailing the low-tax economy as a potential role model for post-Brexit Britain.

On a three-day visit to Asia, the Foreign Secretary will claim the UK’s history and geography gives it the chance to be an "invisible chain" linking democracies across the world.

Despite Brexit, Mr Hunt will highlight "friendship" with Europe as one of the UK’s key international advantages.

He will tell the International Institute for Strategic Studies: "In a world where it is rarely possible for one country to achieve its ambitions alone, we have some of the best connections of any country – whether through the Commonwealth, our alliance with the United States and our friendship with our neighbours in Europe.

"Those connections mean that, in this part of the world, Britain is amongst only a handful of European countries with an embassy or high commission in every member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean)."

The UK is set to open a new mission to the Asean headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, later this year (2019).

Mr Hunt will add: "Those connections are why Britain’s post-Brexit role should be to act as an invisible chain linking together the democracies of the world, those countries which share our values and support our belief in free trade, the rule of law and open societies."

The top Tory, tipped as a future party leader, used a weekend newspaper article to suggest the UK should follow Singapore’s example as it forges a new global position after Brexit.

It transformed itself from a "tiny territory devoid of natural resources into the world’s eighth richest country", claimed the Foreign Secretary.

He added: "While the circumstances of Britain’s departure from the EU are different, there could be few better instructions for us as we make our post-Brexit future."

Mr Hunt is also due to visit Malaysia this week.

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