THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 25, 2021 at 07:35 JST
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, right, poses with French President Emmanuel Macron for a photo ahead of their meeting at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo on July 24. (Pool Photo via AP)
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and French President Emmanuel Macron have met in Tokyo as the Olympics get underway.
They welcomed the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as “a powerful symbol of global unity” for a victory over COVID-19, according to a joint statement released by the Japanese foreign ministry.
Macron attended the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Olympics to represent France, the host nation for 2024.
They’ve also agreed to share Japan’s experiences for the 2024 games, which will be held in Paris.
Japan has struggled to balance virus measures and preparation for the Olympics amid growing public concern about the health risks of holding the games.
Suga and Macron also agreed to cooperate in a wide range of areas including defense, climate change and the economy.
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