WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate said on Wednesday that it was set to hold a hearing next week on the confirmation of Hillary Rodham Clinton's nomination as the next Secretary of State.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that it would hold the hearing on Jan. 15 for Clinton and Susan Rice, President-elect Barack Obama's pick for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

U.S. local media reports said that the New York Senator has been meeting individually with Committee members and had long-time discussions with leaders of the Senate panel in private about her nomination.

The hearing was expected to bring no surprise about Clinton's post in the State Department.

John Kerry, the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday that Clinton "will bring her years of experience and acute intellect to her position as America's top diplomat."

He also said that he looked forward to working with the Committee's top Republican, Sen. Richard Lugar, to "ensure a fair and expeditious confirmation process for these two accomplished nominees."

Clinton was defeated by Obama in the long-lasting and close race for the Democratic presidential nominee last year, and joined her rival's camp after dropping out of the competition.

After Hillary Clinton became a clear potential candidate for Obama's chief diplomat, former president Bill Clinton agreed to make his post-presidential work more open, including his business deals and global charitable work, to clear the way for his wife to the post.
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