Brexit Talks: Berlin is first overseas stop for Boris Johnson as UK prime minister

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she's open to alternatives to the Irish backstop - the key sticking point with the UK over Brexit. New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in Berlin on the first of a three-stop European tour. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports.

Received as a statesman. And seemingly rather flattered by it.

Then, an unexpected offer for visiting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Find an alternative to the issue that divides us most, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and do it very fast.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "The Irish backstop has always been a fall-back position. If one is able to solve this conundrum - if we find this solution. We said we will probably find it in the next two years, but we can also maybe find it in the next 30 days to come."

Boris Johnson accepted the challenge.

BORIS JOHNSON BRITISH PRIME MINISTER "You rightly say, the onus is on us to produce those solutions, those ideas on how we can resolve the issue over the Northern Irish border and that is what we want to do."

It is not a breakthrough yet.

GUY HENDERSON BERLIN "Because the view in Berlin is still: no more formal negotiations for now. Which means those alternatives would only be properly considered in the next round of talks on the future relationship between the UK and the EU after the withdrawal. And in the meantime, what do EU leaders want the very backstop that Johnson says he'll never accept."

If alternatives do come though, the next question is - will European leaders see them as workable - particularly on this timeline.

There is still a suspicion that Johnson's strategy is designed to fail.

OLAF BOENHKE GERMAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT "He knew already there would be no leverage for renegotiating the deal - but he needs to present to his domestic base at home that he tried everything and blame the EU for not being more flexible."

Johnson leaves Germany with more than he might have expected from his first stop before traveling to Paris and then Brussels later this week. GH, CGTN Berlin.