Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam; Opening night of Macbeth; Rizal Monument; Ceremonial Welcome; Conditional Cash Transfer Program; Building Resilience and Awareness of Metro Manila Communities to Natural Disaster and Climate Change Impacts; State Dinner

On Thursday 12 April 2012, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO received the Head of Programme Development, Edinburgh International Festival, Ms Sally Hobson.

Afterwards, the Administrator and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE received the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Mr Nguyen Xuzn Phuc.

Later, the Administrator and Sir Nicholas hosted a lunch for the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Then, at the Sydney Opera House, the Administrator attended the opening night of the Bell Shakespeare Company’s ‘Macbeth’.

Earlier, at the Rizal Monument, Manila, the Philippines, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE attended a wreath laying ceremony.

Afterwards, at the Malacañan Palace, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce attended a ceremonial welcome.

Later, the Governor-General met with the President of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno Aquino III.

In the afternoon, at the General Ricardo Papa Senior Memorial High School, Taguig City, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Honourable Corazon Soliman and the Lord Mayor of Taguig City, Mayor Lani Cayetano, viewed the Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

Afterwards, in Taguig City, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Lord Mayor, visited an AusAID Building Resilience and Awareness of Metro Manila Communities to Natural Disaster and Climate Change Impacts site, and a Habitat for Humanity project, and met with village women and community leaders.

In the evening, at Malacañan Palace the Governor-General and Mr Bryce attended a State Dinner hosted in their honour by the President of the Philippines, at which the Governor-General gave an address.