The head of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden, said Thursday he is to lead a congressional delegation to China to discuss missile defense and non-proliferation issues.
Biden is expected to meet with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji and other officials.
The August 4-11 trip is the first Biden is making since becoming committee chairman on June 6.
"Getting our relations right in this part of the world is vital to US national interests and security," Biden said in a statement.
Biden said it's crucial to work closely with China. He will discuss issues like reducing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Biden said he also hoped to visit Japan on a future visit to the region.
(China.com.cn 08/03/2001)
