The Philippines received strong backing from Timor-Leste on its position to adhere to a rules-based international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Friday during a meeting with Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta.

“I’m very happy to report that beyond the formalities of these exchanges, President Horta and I had a very productive and interesting discussion on the mechanisms and the modalities that we — with the experience of His Excellency in international affairs, the many suggestions and mechanisms that he brought to light that can be of use to the Philippines when it comes to the challenges that we are presently facing in the issues that are regarding the South China Sea or, as we refer to it, the West Philippine Sea,” Marcos said.

“That is why it is with gratitude that we also have received the expressions of support from the President for the Philippines in terms of the rules — our adherence to a rules-based international law, to UNCLOS.”

And amid all the different issues that countries are facing, and with President Ramos-Horta’s experience, he has shown what the Philippines “can do to further our discussion and our argument as to the continued adherence of all partners to a rules-based system and international law,” the President added.

President Ramos-Horta arrived in Manila on Wednesday for his state visit aimed at further strengthening the bilateral relations with the Philippines.

During their bilateral meeting in Malacañang, the Philippines and Timor-Leste agreed to work together on civilian commercial aviation, social security agreement for professionals, and educational cooperation between their higher learning institutions.

The Philippines and Timor-Leste established their formal diplomatic relations on May 20, 2002, with their relations spanning 21 years. PND