Boris Johnson has secured talks with key world leaders on a Far East tour starting today, fuelling speculation over his Downing Street ambitions.
The one-on-one meetings will see him sit down with the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore.
One London Tory MP said the trip to boost trade and investment showed Mr Johnson is now a “big figure” on the global stage.
But critics hit back claiming the six-day foray revealed Mr Johnson’s top priority was to be Tory leader.
Potential rival Theresa May’s profile has soared this week with a rare and personal interview in which she failed to rule out a leadership bid.
His trip will see the Mayor also meet business leaders and investors in some of the world’s fastest growing economies to “to bang the drum” for London.
He said: “The truly dynamic cities of Singapore, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur are delivering exciting infrastructure and regeneration at a fast pace and are the perfect partners for London.”
Mr Johnson will meet the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday and then next week he will also see Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia.
Cities of London and Westminster MP Mark Field said: “I think it is recognition from these places of the importance attached to London, but also the recognition of Boris. He is a big figure.”
Daniel Moylan, one of the Mayor’s key transport advisors, used an interview with grass-roots website ConservativeHome to say what British politicians lack “apart from Boris, is the vision”.
Asked about how Tories should address Ukip, he said: “That is a question of leadership and personality and character and credibility.
“Nobody ever says, ‘this is the sort of Britain I think we should live in.’
“I think Boris has more of that than most. You can throw together a Boris world.”
He explained “Boris world” would be optimistic, socially liberal, pro-immigration and one “in which you can actually achieve things”.
Home Secretary Ms May appeared on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs on Sunday and on the cover of The Spectator, fanning talk of her leadership prospects.
Shadow London minister Sadiq Khan said: “Boris Johnson is clearly more concerned with his ambition to be the next Tory Leader than his responsibilities to London.”
