Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Tuesday he regrets being unable to secure a contract to have Japan help develop Australia's new class of submarine, according to local media reports.

During an event at the Japanese Embassy in Canberra, Abbott expressed disappointment over his successor Malcolm Turnbull's decision in April 2016 to award the A$50 billion ($35 billion) contract to a French state-owned shipbuilder.

"The bonds between Australia and Japan are closer than ever, our economic relationship is extremely strong, our people-to-people is strong and growing, and obviously the defense and security relationship is growing all the time," Abbott said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.