U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will go to Germany next week for the annual Munich Security Conference, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland announced on Friday.

"This annual event brings together global leaders to discuss common security challenges," said Nuland at a regular briefing.

She said the conference will give Clinton, who will arrive in Germany next Friday, an opportunity to have bilateral meetings with a number of her European and other counterparts from around the world.

Following that, Clinton will go to Bulgaria next Sunday to meet with senior Bulgarian officials on issues including the democratic transitions in the Middle East, the U.S. ongoing support to Afghanistan and energy security.