He told reporters: “Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that, and it’s even more dangerous, I think, for Canada to get into business with China.”

“Canada is not doing well. They’re doing very poorly, and you can’t look at China as the answer.”

“I know China very well. I know President Xi is a friend of mine. I know him very well.”

“But that’s a, that’s a big hurdle to go over when you get Canada.”

Starmer opens door to Xi visit to Britain

Keir Starmer sparked the prospect of controversy on Wednesday after leaving the door open for Chinese dictator Xi Jinping to make a trip to Britain.

The Prime Minister appears willing to consider hosting the Communist leader following their bonding during his China visit.

However, the potential move is set to trigger fierce debate, particularly given five MPs remain barred from entering China.

Sir Keir and President Xi conducted “warm” discussions in Beijing on Thursday, signalling a thawing relationship between China and the UK.

The pair’s strengthening rapport and mutual passion for football has boosted the chances of a visit taking place.

President Xi’s previous journey to Britain came in 2015, when he shared a pint of beer at a pub alongside then-Prime Minister David Cameron.

Downing Street refuses to rule out visit

Questioned about whether Sir Keir wanted Xi to come to Britain, his spokesman said: “I think the PM has been clear that a reset relationship with China, that it’s no longer in an ice age, is beneficial to British people and British business.”

“I’m not going to get ahead of future engagements, we’ll set those out in the normal way.”

President Xi could alternatively make a full state visit but in that instance he would have to be invited personally by King Charles.

Yet any trip by the Chinese leader threatens to spark significant fury.

Beyond the MP bans, China has faced accusations of conducting espionage operations targeting parliament and No 10.

Additional flashpoints include a new Chinese mega-embassy in London and the imprisonment of British tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Badenoch accuses Starmer of kowtowing to China

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Keir Starmer seems incapable of acting in Britain’s national interest.”

“We should not roll out the red carpet for a state that conducts daily espionage in our country, flouts international trading rules and aids Putin in his senseless war on Ukraine. We need a dialogue with China, we do not need to kowtow to them.”

“But Keir Starmer is weak and has no backbone. The Conservatives will always work for a stronger economy and stronger country.”

Sir Keir has pursued a determined push to strengthen relations with China since becoming Prime Minister 18 months ago.

Five MPs and two peers banned from China

China imposed sanctions on five MPs: Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, Tom Tugendhat, Nusrat Ghani, Neil O’Brien and Tim Loughton.

Peers David Alton and Helena Kennedy also faced penalties from Beijing.

The entire group was barred from setting foot in China, Hong Kong and Macau, had any Chinese property seized, and were prohibited from conducting any business dealings with Chinese citizens or organisations.

After his watershed discussions, Sir Keir, who received a guided tour of Beijing’s historic Forbidden City, clinched an agreement that will see China reduce whisky tariffs from 10% to 5%, in an agreement worth £250 million over five years for UK exporters.

Visa-free travel deal agreed

An arrangement on visa-free travel to China for UK citizens was also struck.

Visitors spending less than 30 days in the country will no longer require a visa under the agreement.

The deal covers those travelling to China for business and as tourists and brings the rules for UK visitors in line with those from 50 other countries including France and Germany.

The measure won’t take immediate effect, but Beijing has committed to unilateral visa-free entry for UK citizens with a start date to be confirmed.

Sir Keir told Mr Xi he wanted a “more sophisticated” relationship with China, while President said relations had been through some “twists and turns” in recent years.

Starmer raises ‘areas of concern’ in talks

The leaders convened with their delegations for roughly an hour and 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute four-way meeting with national security adviser Jonathan Powell and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and then a lunch that lasted just over an hour.

Sir Keir touched down with a delegation of 54 representatives of British businesses and cultural institutions looking to deepen ties with the country.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister brought up “areas of concern” during the discussions.

Sir Keir has faced calls to raise the case of Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uighur minority with the Chinese leadership.

He said they had a “respectful discussion” on those issues and that this was “part and parcel of the reason to engage”.

The Prime Minister said: “We raised those issues, as you would expect.”

“Part of the rationale for engagement is to make sure that we can both seize the opportunities that are available, which is what we’ve done, but also have a mature discussion about issues that we disagree on.”

Downing Street refused to provide specifics about what was discussed regarding controversial matters including Mr Lai, the sanctioned MPs, Uighurs and Beijing’s purchases of Russian oil targeted by western sanctions aimed at undermining its Ukraine war effort.

No 10 wouldn’t confirm whether Sir Keir demanded Mr Lai’s release from the Chinese president, though officials stressed the Government’s stance calling for his immediate freedom remains unchanged.

The 78-year-old British citizen has endured five years locked in solitary confinement under conditions his son describes as amounting to “torture” under Hong Kong’s new national security law.