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The former London Mayor said he wants a ”strong new European partnership" after Britain leaves the bloc. Boris Johnson was speaking in Vienna after talks with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz and hinted he may have laid the ground for a potential deal with Austria. The Foreign Secretary said: "We do want a strong EU but we also want a strong UK and I think we share a vision for a strong new European partnership between the UK and the EU and ever closer relations between Britain and Austria."

Mr Johnson said Austria has been hit hard by the migrant crisis and he wants a strong relationship between the two countries. The Foreign Secretary said: "One of the most important points I wanted to make is that we in the United Kingdom are very, very keen to continue to tackle that sort of issue together, whatever our relationship with the EU." Turning on the charm, Mr Johnson said he was now the "proud possessor" of a cow-bell presented to him by Austrian company Doppelmayr, which manufactured the Emirates Air Line cable car over the Thames.

EPA/AFP Boris Johnson and his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz are eager to strike a deal

Our goal must be that we keep strong relations between the UK and the EU and strong relations between the UK and Austria Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Foreign Minister

Mr Kurz said: "Our goal must be that we keep strong relations between the UK and the EU and strong relations between the UK and Austria." It comes as Mr Johnson spent a busy 24 hours meeting his fellow foreign ministers in a whistlestop tour of Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Yesterday he was pictured speaking with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

GETTY Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz wants a strong relationship with the UK

GETTY Mr Johnson also held informal talks with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier

GETTY The ministers posed for a photo on the Glienicke Bridge,in Potsdam

The Uxbridge MP was quick to stress the Prime Minister’s priorities as he mingled with his European counterparts on a boat trip in Germany. The ministers posed for a photo on the Glienicke Bridge,in Potsdam, which became famous as the site of an exchange of spies between the United States and Eastern powers during the Cold War,with Mr Johnson taking centre stage. He said: "The British government, under Theresa May, is absolutely committed to participation in European foreign policy co-operation and European defence and security co-operation.”

AFP GETTY Mr Johnson has called for a "strong new European partnership"

GETTY Boris Johnson mingled with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other foreign ministers

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in pictures Thu, July 21, 2016 Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attends his first EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels to discuss the issues in Turkey, Syria, and the Middle East. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 18 British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson addresses the press after a meeting with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault at Quai d'Orsay on July 28, 2016 in Paris, France