Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte. Photo from the Presidential Communications Office/Facebook

MANILA — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte on Friday affirmed their commitment to promoting peace and security through adherence to international rules, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said over the weekend.

Both leaders acknowledged the challenges they face with neighboring countries: the Philippines with China over the West Philippine Sea and Lithuania with Russia.

"I don’t work for Beijing, I don’t work for Washington, I don’t work for Moscow. I work for Manila. I work for the Philippines and that’s what I need to promote," Marcos told Simonyte in a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the President’s working visit in Singapore.

Šimonyte expressed her full support for Marcos' stance, noting the significance of international law as a safety net for small states like Lithuania.

Marcos also acknowledged the interconnectedness of global events, noting that regional conflicts can have far-reaching impacts.

"[I]t’s almost impossible but now it is now regional issues, they eventually impact the unexpected places which are very, very far away," he said.

The 2 leaders were also scheduled to discuss political cooperation, economic cooperation, and regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific region.

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