NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- One of America 's pre-eminent political power couples made a rare joint appearance Friday , when Bill and Hillary Clinton took the stage at the former president 's Clinton Global Initiative conference . Bill Clinton says his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the `` best public service our family has ever produced . '' `` I want to begin by expressing my extreme indebtedness to the Clinton Global Initiative , to all of you who participated , for giving me the first chance I have had in a week to see Hillary , '' Bill Clinton told the audience of social activists and business leaders at the closing session of CGI , a week-long conference designed to find solutions to global problems through public and private partnerships . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was at the session to unveil a new State Department initiative on food security . As he introduced her , the former president was effusive in his praise for his wife , saying that her approach to food security -- helping farmers around the world grow their own food to earn income and alleviate poverty -- was much smarter than the decades-long policy of simply giving humanitarian aid and food to countries . Watch Clinton pay tribute to his wife » . `` It was a wrong-headed policy . It persisted through Democratic and Republican policies alike , including mine . We were all wrong , and she is determined to reverse it , '' Bill Clinton said . Watch portion of Anderson Cooper 's interview with former President Clinton » . `` Most of what I know about what I do today , I learned from her and she has become the best public servant our family has produced , '' he added . `` I am very proud of her and honored that she came here . '' Hillary Clinton , who received a standing ovation , had equally kind words for her husband . `` It wo n't surprise you to hear that I am very proud of my husband , and I think what he has invented and brought to life here is extraordinary , '' she said , adding that the new State Department food initiative , in part , was an idea she developed by seeing the kinds of partnerships the Clinton Global Initiative produced . The Clintons posed for a photo-op with State Department officials and executives from General Mills and other organizations , who pledged at the conference to start a program to help farmers around the world . And then , for fans of the former first couple , a rare treat . As she walked off the stage , Bill Clinton drew some more cheers when he gave his wife a kiss . Bill Clinton continued to read off the million-dollar commitments he received at the conference for additional social programs . Hillary Clinton left to meet with 15 ministers from the Caribbean .
Bill Clinton praises wife 's approach to food security at global issues conference . Hillary Clinton wants farmers worldwide to grow own food to earn income . Clinton admits `` wrong-headed '' policy toward humanitarian aid .