U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday in Kenya "re-affirmed the new U.S. administration"s commitment towards expanding its partnership with African countries, expressing optimism in the continent"s long-term potential for growth and development," VOA News reports. Speaking at the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum in Nairobi, which marked the start of her 11-day trip to Africa, Clinton "also stressed to the delegates that economic progress is tied directly to good governance (Boswell, 8/5). Clinton"s message was that the "new American policy for Africa would be trade not aid," according to the New York Times. She told the forum, "We want to be your partner, not your patron" (Gettleman, 8/5).