While not quite sending coal to Newcastle, Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton, alongside other trade talks, will be celebrating the sale of Cornish tea to China on a visit to the country.

Sarah will be visiting China next week to fly the flag for Cornish businesses and the Duchy’s creative sector.

Visiting China as a guest of the ruling Communist Party, during the weeklong visit Mrs Newton and her Conservative colleagues will travel across China meeting business leaders, academics and politicians to discuss the growing links between China and the UK.

Mrs Newton is keen to highlight the value of Cornish exports and will be meeting with the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in China to discuss how it can be made easier for Cornish companies to access Chinese markets.

She will also be making a special trip to Zhejiang University in Hangzhou to meet the University’s International Collaboration Unit. Mrs Newton hopes that fruitful links can be made between Zhejiang and Cornwall’s dynamic creative sector, with its hub at Falmouth University.

Mrs Newton will also be visiting Tsinghua University to celebrate the institution’s collaboration with Exeter University, a very successful collaboration that extends from joint scientific research to popular student exchange programs. During meetings with politicians, including Communist Party International Department Vice-Minister Yu Hongjun, Mrs Newton and her colleagues will discuss Sino-British relations.

Mrs Newton said: ‘‘Britain’s exports to China have risen by 14 per cent in the last year alone, and we are really making progress in securing access for British business to this significant growth market. As ever Cornwall is leading the way, with Tregothnan now famously selling tea to China.

"We can go further however and I want to use my visit to put Cornwall firmly on the map for Chinese decision makers and business leaders.

"I also want to celebrate and extend the links Falmouth and Exeter Universities have with Chinese institutions, links that provide Cornish students and academics with unparalleled opportunities for personal and work development.

"Cornish businesses and the Duchy’s academic institutions are producing the most amazing output and it’s time to share it with the world, to the benefit of local incomes, local jobs and the opportunities open to our young people.’’