President Marcos described his bilateral meeting with Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta as a "productive" one as he thanked the latter for supporting the Philippines in the South China Sea issue and expressed a desire to enhance the cooperation between both countries in various areas.

Marcos said this following his meeting with Ramos-Horta in Malacañan on Friday morning, Nov. 10. The Timorese leader is on a State Visit to the Philippines upon Marcos' invitation.

In his remarks during their joint press statement, Marcos said he and Ramos-Horta studied the existing platforms of cooperation and partnerships between the Philippines and Timor Leste. They likewise discussed "matters of great importance" to both nations, particularly political cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Both leaders agreed to further negotiations regarding policy consultations, which Timor Leste will host in the future.

"There are many aspects to that consultation that will further the relations between our two countries," Marcos said.

The Chief Executive added that the Philippines and Timor Leste are interested in exploring the possibility of having direct flights between their capital cities, Manila and DIli, through an air services agreement.

Both leaders also eye establishing a bilateral social security agreement as a safety net for both countries' professionals working in each other's country. They likewise seek to strengthen educational cooperation between higher learning institutions and increase student exchanges.

In his speech, President Marcos said the Philippines remains committed to assisting Timor Leste in the skills formation of the Timorese people.

"In recent months, under the direction of our Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs, we have deployed a team from our Department of Science and Technology who assisted the Timorese people in enhancing skills in food processing," he said.

"We are committed to increasing engagements in such technical cooperation, and we have tasked our respective ministries to explore and enhance future partnerships on this matter," he added.

West Philippine Sea

Meanwhile, Marcos thanked Ramos-Horta for supporting the Philippines on the issue of the South China Sea, particularly in the country's call for adherence to the rules-based international law.

"It is with gratitude that we also have received expressions of support from the President for the Philippines in terms of the rules— our adherence to a rules-based international law, to UNCLOS," he said.

According to Marcos, he had an "interesting" discussion with Ramos-Horta, who suggested mechanisms that could be "of use to the Philippines when it comes to the challenges that we are presently facing in the issues regarding the South China Sea."

"The experience of the President has shown what the Philippines can do to further our discussion and argument as to the continued adherence of all parties to a rules-based system and international law. And for that, I thank him very much," he said.

Timor Leste in ASEAN

President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Timor Leste in its application to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"We look forward to seeing Timor Leste's status in ASEAN be successfully elevated from an observer, as it is now, to a full member in the very near future," he said.

During the recent 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, the ASEAN Leaders adopted the roadmap for Timor Leste's full membership in ASEAN.

"We strive to pursue this work alongside our ASEAN brothers and sisters," Marcos said.