The last time Boris Johnson was in Beijing in 2008, he cut a somewhat comical figure as he accepted the Olympic flag from his triumphant hosts in the city’s cavernous “Bird’s Nest” stadium.

伦敦市长鲍里斯•约翰逊(Boris Johnson)上一次在北京露面是在2008年，那时他的举止有点像喜剧人物：在洞穴状的北京“鸟巢”体育馆，从喜气洋洋的北京奥运会主办官员手里接过奥林匹克会旗。

London’s mayor was in more cosy confines on his return visit to the Chinese capital yesterday. A year after London held its own successful games, Mr Johnson pressed the flesh with amused – and often enthused – Chinese onlookers at exhibitions that trumpeted London’s universities and some of Britain’s most famous brands.

这名英国首都的市长昨日重访中国首都时，似乎更为自在一些。在伦敦成功举办奥运会的一年后，约翰逊在推销伦敦高校和英国一些最知名品牌的展会上，与开心的（而且往往热情的）中国围观者握手。

Mr Johnson, a recognised and popular figure in China, will today make a joint appearance with George Osborne at Peking University. The week-long visits mark a thaw in Sino-UK relations after David Cameron’s meeting with Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, last year angered the Chinese government.

约翰逊在中国有一定知名度，而且人气颇高。今日他将与英国财相乔治•奥斯本(George Osborne)一起在北京大学露面。他们两人为期一周的访问标志着中英关系解冻。去年英国首相戴维•卡梅伦(David Cameron)会晤西藏精神领袖达赖喇嘛，令中国政府愤怒。

Mr Johnson likes to brag that there are now more Chinese students in London than any other city outside China after a 150 per cent surge over the past five years, and cited soaring demand in the world’s second-largest economy for everything from British tea to luxury cars.

约翰逊喜欢夸耀这样一个数据：目前在伦敦的中国留学生超过中国境外其它任何城市（过去五年里，中国留英学生人数飙升150%）。他还指出，全球第二大经济体对英国产品（从茶到豪华车）的需求不断增长。

But Mr Johnson said yesterday that there had been an inadequate number of visa approvals for Chinese tourists. “London is the best city in the world to visit,” the mayor told reporters.

但约翰逊昨日表示，英国向中国游客签发的签证数量不够。“伦敦是世界上最佳的旅游城市，”这名市长对记者们表示。

The mayor remains an unapologetic recruiter of Chinese investment to London. In 2004 just eight Chinese businesses chose to invest in the city; last year the figure was 27. Over the past 10 years, 153 Chinese companies invested in London compared with 453 from the US and 207 from India.

这名市长仍在大力为伦敦招揽中国投资。2004年，只有8家中国企业选择在伦敦投资；去年这个数目达到27家。过去10年里，共有153家中国公司在伦敦投资，远低于美国的453家和印度的207家。

Three high-profile Chinese investments have been announced this year. Dalian Wanda, a Chinese property group, is planning a £700m luxury hotel and apartment complex in London’s Nine Elms area. In May another Chinese developer, Advanced Business Park, announced a £1bn regeneration of the Royal Albert Dock as the centrepiece of an “Asian business port”. Last month yet another Chinese group, Zhongrong, unveiled a £500m plan to resurrect Crystal Palace, the Victorian architectural masterpiece that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851.

今年有三个令人瞩目的中国投资项目出炉。中国房地产集团大连万达(Dalian Wanda)计划投入7亿英镑，在伦敦九榆树(Nine Elms)地区开发一个豪华酒店和公寓项目。5月，另一家中国开发商“总部基地”(Advanced Business Park)宣布将投资10亿英镑，开发皇家阿尔伯特码头(Royal Albert Dock)，作为“亚洲商业港”计划的核心部分。上月，还有一家中国集团“中融”(Zhongrong)宣布一个5亿英镑的计划，拟在伦敦南部重建水晶宫(Crystal Palace)，即1851年维多利亚时期万国工业博览会(Great Exhibition)的展馆。

Mr Johnson was also yesterday peddling a brand of retail politics unknown in China’s tightly controlled political environment, in which mayors play second fiddle to more powerful Communist party secretaries. His two public appearances, at Beijing’s premier art district and a large shopping centre, generated much enthusiasm from curious onlookers and admirers.

昨日，约翰逊还以其特有的方式展开草根政治活动，这在中国严密控制的政治环境下是闻所未闻的（在中国，市长的地位不如权位更高的市委书记）。他在北京首屈一指的艺术区和一个大型购物中心两次公开露面，引发好奇的围观者和崇拜者热情围观。

“I think he’s lovely but is also older than I was expecting,” said Feng Xian, a young woman at one of the events. “I saw pictures of him riding a bike and was impressed by his manner.”

“我觉得他很可爱，但他比我想象的更老一些，”在场的年轻女士冯先（音）说。“我看到过他骑自行车的照片，对他的举止印象很深。”