Newly appointed United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Monday said Britain will not desert its "leading role" in Europe. "We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but...we are not in any way going to abandon our leading role in European participation," Johnson said, while meeting his counterparts from EU member states in Brussels, Belgium, AFP reported.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said she had "a good exchange [with Johnson] on the main issues on the agenda today [at the meeting of EU foreign ministers]." Johnson also said he'd had a "very good conversation" with Mogherini on Britain's continued participation in Europe.

However, Mogherini clarified that Britain will continue to be a member of the EU until it invokes Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Only then can Brexit negotiations begin, she added.

Johnson had headed the campaign for Britain to leave the EU, or Brexit, as it came to be known. In the June 23 referendum, the people of UK had voted for Britain to no longer be a member of the EU. The result led David Cameron to step down as prime minister and had also triggered protests among anti-Brexit campaigners.

Theresa May took charge as prime minister on July 13. Her appointment of Johnson as the foreign secretary had come as a surprise and was criticised by a large section of people.