SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday encouraged his Japanese counterpart, SUGA Yoshihide, over the Tokyo Olympics this summer, calling him a “very good friend.”

Tokyo saw a one-year postponement of the Olympics from last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic after going through massive preparations.

That “was quite heartbreaking for the people of Japan,” Morrison told reporters.

“We wish them all the best as they persevere and put these games on. I think that shows tremendous resilience and strength on their part,” Morrison also said.

Australia’s national team for women’s softball arrived in Japan on Tuesday, becoming the first Tokyo Olympic athlete squad from abroad to enter Japan after the postponement.

Morrison is slated to meet Suga during the three-day summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations in Britain from Friday.

JIJI Press