May says UK will be more outward-looking

The British prime minister says Australia will be one of the first countries the UK looks to after it leaves the European Union.

Britain says Australia will be one of the first countries the UK looks to after it leaves the EU. (AAP)

British Prime Minister Theresa May insists Australia will be one of the first countries the United Kingdom looks to as it leaves the European Union.

Ms May and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China on Monday.

Leaving the European Union would mean a more outward looking UK and "obviously Australia with our long standing ties and our close relationship will be one of the first countries we will be looking to", she said.