New York's mayor to meet Johnson

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated his new London counterpart and said he was looking forward to "starting work together on the issues we share".

Mr Bloomberg, who will meet Boris Johnson next Friday, said New York and London were often thought of as competitors but both cities needed "to make it easier for companies and business leaders to cross the Atlantic - or else they will go elsewhere".

The 66-year-old businessman and philanthropist congratulated Mr Johnson on his victory in a phone call and said he "enjoyed" meeting him during a visit to the UK last autumn.

"It's very common to paint New York and London as competitors," Mr Bloomberg said.

"While there is some truth to that, the reality - like most things in life - is far more complex.

"In fact, both cities are facing increasing global competition from emerging financial centres that requires each of us not only to sharpen our competitive advantages, but to make it easier for companies and business leaders to cross the Atlantic - or else they will go elsewhere."

He added: "Mayor-elect Johnson built his campaign on addressing many of the intractable issues we've been tackling in innovative ways in New York: building a more environmentally-sustainable city, creating incentives for private developers to build affordable housing, improving bus service and other forms of mass transit, driving crime down, and improving public health.

"I enjoyed meeting Boris when I was in London last fall [autumn], and I look forward to meeting with him again when I will be in London on Friday and starting work together on the issues we share."