国际英语新闻：U.S. to hold memorial service for Ambassador Holbrooke

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Thursday said that the United States will hold a memorial service on Friday for the late former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that U.S. President Barack Obama, State Secretary Hillary Clinton, among other high-profile figures, will participate in the memorial service for Ambassador Holbrooke, who died on Dec. 13 last year from complications of an aortic dissection.

Crowley said Clinton will "both reflect on and recognize his tremendous contributions to the United States and our foreign policy."

Besides, Clinton will make remarks on U.S.-China relations on Friday morning for the inaugural Richard C. Holbrooke Annual Lecture at the Department of State.

A State Department statement said the lecture is a tribute to the memory and accomplishments of Holbrooke, who had also been the Assistant State Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 1977-1981.