Liam Fox has been criticised for saying the UK has "shared values" with the Philippines as he met the country's president, Rodrigo Duterte, who has boasted of personally killing criminals.

Mr Duterte has also previously said he "doesn't give a s*** about human rights" and his war on drugs has left thousands of people dead since his election last year. He has urged the public to kill drug addicts, who he said he would be "happy to slaughter" in their millions.

Dr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, launched his campaign for post-Brexit trade by publishing an article in local media saying the UK would emerge from its EU divorce "as a stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking nation."

He added: "The UK and the Philippines have a well-established and strong relationship built on a foundation of shared values and shared interests and we want this partnership to continue to flourish.

"I hope this will lead to stronger relationships between the UK and our trading partners in South East Asia creating an era of even greater opportunity."

Mr Duterte, 72, won last year's election by a wide margin on a promise to fight crime, particularly illegal drugs, corruption and terrorism.

Rodrigo Duterte says he 'doesn't give a s*** about human rights' as 3,500 killed in war on drugs

Since taking office in June, his anti-drug crackdown has left more than 7,000 peoples dead, alarming Western governments led by the United States and the European Union and UN rights officials.

Mr Duterte recently called the EU "sons of bitches" after it issued a resolution calling for restraint and a rethink of his bloody war on drugs, and he has called former US President Barack Obama a "son of a bitch".

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said Dr Fox's comments were "frankly shocking".

"I'm sorry, but we do not have these shared common values with president Duterte who wants to bring back the death penalty and lower the age of criminal responsibility to nine," he said.

The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts “These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don’t go into that, even if you’re a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful” The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China “I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, ‘Kill me’ ” AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers “If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas” AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life “I was separated from my wife. I’m not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up” AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade “None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, ‘kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope “We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again’” AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape “I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first” AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: "Duterte is one of the 21st century’s most sinister leaders and Liam Fox has flown halfway around the world to grovel to him.

"The fact that the first visit made by Fox since triggering Article 50 is to the Philippines shows just how low this government is willing to stoop in order to secure even a minimal trade deal in the future.

He added: "According to UK trade statistics, the value of our exports to the Philippines are just £500n a year- to put this into context our total international trade is currently over £28bn a month.

"So not only is Fox blind to the horrific human rights abuses and endemic corruption in the Philippines, he’s also clearly oblivious to the actual realities of doing trade with them."