TOKYO: US President Joe Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tuesday that the Tokyo Olympics were a great success, pledging support for Japan’s efforts to hold a safe and secure Paralympics.

Speaking over the phone with Biden for about 15 minutes at the request of the US side, Suga expressed a gratitude for Washington’s consistent and powerful support and cooperation for holding the Games.

The Games were under a lot of constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Japan fulfilled responsibility as the host nation, Suga said.

The two leaders praised performances by athletes from both countries at the Games, which were postponed by a year due to the pandemic and ended on Sunday.

Suga said he will make all-out efforts to hold the Tokyo Paralympics, set to start on Aug. 24, safely and securely.

US first lady Jill Biden joined the talks, telling Suga that she appreciates Japan’s hospitality. She represented the United States at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on July 23.

The two leaders reaffirmed that they will closely cooperate in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening the bilateral alliance.

Suga and Biden did not discuss a response to the pandemic, according to the Japanese leader.

JIJI Press