When Boris Johnson met Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in London, the talk was of building trade ties, improving public transport and bicycles.

At a private meeting at City Hall, both men flagged the success of their respective cities' rent-a-bike schemes.

Mr Huldai told the JC: "The use of bikes in Tel Aviv is a real revolution. Before, we only had three per cent of people cycling. Today, 20 per cent of trips to work are made on bikes."

Mr Huldai has been widely credited with turning Tel Aviv into a city famed for its nightlife, gay parades and having more venture capital per person than anywhere else in the world. "In a way, we are the start-up city of the start-up nation," he said

But he noted that he shares common problems with Mr Johnson. He said: "Mayors all over the world are dealing with the same issues: education, sewage, roads, transportation, arts, culture and welfare.

"When I was elected, the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. It took me almost two years to make a real turnaround, to balance the budget and triple the investment that we put in."

He recognised that Israel's values had changed. "Israel was one of the most equal societies on earth until 35 years ago. We have changed. Our politicians pull us to a private free market. We found out that the free market cannot fix everything."

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the two mayors expressed their commitment to continuing to grow the strong relationship between London and Tel Aviv.

They also discussed Mr Johnson's planned trip to Israel later this year.