United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spent several days in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) in early January meeting with senior government officials and emphasizing the robust nature of the relationship between the U.S. and the U.A.E.

Secretary Clinton’s  trip included a visit to Masdar Institute of Technology where she commended the U.A.E. on its innovative economic development plans under the vision of the country’s wise leadership. In her remarks, Secretary Clinton highlighted the country’s commitment to establishing a diverse, knowledge-based economy and to emerging as a regional leader in the renewable and peaceful nuclear energy sector.

Secretary Clinton also spoke to U.S. Diplomats and embassy staff at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi about the newly-released Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).  Clinton called the review a “real roadmap to how [the U.S.] want[s] to build [its] diplomatic and development functions in cooperation with [its] defense partners and to put forth the strongest possible position in furtherance of national security, values, and interests of the United States.”

Secretary Clinton underscored the support and confidence that the U.S. has in the U.A.E.’s economic development and applauded the U.A.E.’s position as a strategic defense and commercial partner to the U.S. in the region and on the global stage.

For more information on Secretary Clinton’s visit to the U.A.E., please follow the links below:

Masdar Institute of Technology speech: http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/January/20110110132033su0.8420941.html?CP.rss=true

Deptartment of State briefing: http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/January/20110107172214su0.1220928.html

Clinton’s meeting with US Embassy Staff in UAE:http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/01/154283.htm

Press Coverage: http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/uae-well-positioned-for-21st-century-clinton-2011-01-10-1.340274