Government House, Wellington, New Zealand
23 October 2012
The New Zealand State Visit was capped off with a grand state dinner hosted by Governor General Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae in honor of President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Government House of New Zealand in Wellington.
In his reception statement, the Governor General acknowledged the importance of the growing numbers of Filipinos in New Zealand and said that their contributions in the fields of information technology, business, health and caregiving, and dairy has enriched and strengthened the industries. He commended the diligence, hard work, and skills of the Filipino dairy managers and workers. The Governor General also recalled his couple of trips to the Philippines and confirmed the beauty of the country specially in the places of Palawan and Mindanao.
The President replied that he is very thankful for the warm and cordial welcome of the government of New Zealand and said that after becoming President, he was able to spend his first real vacation in the Kiwi country. He also expressed his gratitude for the generous contributions of New Zealand to the Philippine Red Cross and UNICEF for these were used to aid flood and typhoon victims in the Philippines. In the end, the President said that he is looking forward to a deeper, more meaningful and more positive engagements between both countries in the future.
The President flew to Canberra for the start of his four-day State Visit in Australia after the state dinner.
In his reception statement, the Governor General acknowledged the importance of the growing numbers of Filipinos in New Zealand and said that their contributions in the fields of information technology, business, health and caregiving, and dairy has enriched and strengthened the industries. He commended the diligence, hard work, and skills of the Filipino dairy managers and workers. The Governor General also recalled his couple of trips to the Philippines and confirmed the beauty of the country specially in the places of Palawan and Mindanao.
The President replied that he is very thankful for the warm and cordial welcome of the government of New Zealand and said that after becoming President, he was able to spend his first real vacation in the Kiwi country. He also expressed his gratitude for the generous contributions of New Zealand to the Philippine Red Cross and UNICEF for these were used to aid flood and typhoon victims in the Philippines. In the end, the President said that he is looking forward to a deeper, more meaningful and more positive engagements between both countries in the future.
The President flew to Canberra for the start of his four-day State Visit in Australia after the state dinner.
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