Shirley Tart: Three-day jolly isn't the way to do business, PM

Fly more than 100 people to a country where none (or few) of them speak the language, where the culture is very different from their own, and where it takes at least 24 hours to acclimatise, and you can't possibly expect any decent business, political or peace results for at least a fortnight.

Since David Cameron and his gang of 131 were only in China for three days this week, how on earth did they expect to come home with anything they couldn't have done via email, apart from snapping up souvenirs for the kids and a swathe of cut-price silk for the missus?

Well, according to our PM, this was a trade mission par excellence with Britain's biggest ever delegation descending on the People's Republic which, incidentally, has its own significant population of more than 1.35 billion.

If I had the energy, I would love to be the fly on the wall which tracked what was done, said, secured, sealed, during what frankly sounds like a barmy break for an extraordinary collection of leaders, entrepreneurs and – sorry Mr Cameron – a few inevitable hangers on.

Not that we'd include West Ham vice-chairman and the PM's ambassador for small businesses Karren Brady, or Lord Astor, stepfather of Dave's wife, in that last luckless grouping, of course.

But for those who think a committee of 10 is too many, this motley crowd flown-in as one big group for three days did seem grossly over the top. China must have wondered what on earth had hit them. And just what do we think the achievers achieved?

Well look at the logistics. By the time they were fed and watered, given interpreters, linked up with Chinese oppos in their own particular field of expertise, admired the way of life, the scenery and offered the other pleasantries expected of them, surely that was about a day-and-a-half gone?

Isn't there a better way of doing international business?

Answers tucked inside a Chinese lantern, please.

That way we may get some light thrown on this extraordinary trip.