LISBON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday called his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa and pledged "full respect" for the Portuguese residents in the United Kingdom after the Brexit, Portuguese Lusa News Agency reported.

In what was the first contact since the leader of the British Conservative Party took over as prime minister last July, Johnson expressed "a great desire to strengthen bilateral relations with Portugal" after the Brexit, said a source of the Prime Minister's office, quoted by Lusa.

"Both prime ministers agreed that it was very important to strengthen bilateral relations, namely in the areas of science and technology, sea and defense", since they are both European and Atlantic countries, said the source.

In their phone call, Johnson also reiterated the "position of the British government to reach an agreement to leave the EU by October 31" as planned, the source said.

In late July, Conservative party leader Boris Johnson was appointed British Prime Minister by Queen Isabel II following the formal resignation of Theresa May due to the difficulty of completing the Brexit process, and was sworn in as the 14th prime minister of Elizabeth II's reign.

The United Kingdom had planned to leave the EU on March 29 this year, but later the Brexit was postponed until Oct. 31. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)