Congressional Visit to the People's Republic of China Announcement of Plans for the Visit to China by a Bipartisan Congressional Delegation.

The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China has invited a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit China during January.

The delegation will depart January 2 and return January 17. The group will be led by Senator Alan Cranston, Democrat of California, with Representative Charles Whalen, Republican of Ohio, as the deputy leader.

Other members of the group include:

Senators

CHARLES MATHIAS (R-Md.)

JAMES ABOUREZK (D-S. Dak.)

GARY HART (D-Colo.)

RICHARD LUGAR (R-Ind.)

Representatives

JAMES WEAVER (D-Oreg.)

STEPHEN NEAL (D-N.C.)

FREDERICK RICHMOND (D-N.Y.)

STEPHEN SOLARZ (D-N.Y.)

The Congressmen will he accompanied by Allyn Kreps, legislative assistant to Senator Cranston; Douglas Bennet, Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations; Dan Tate, Deputy Director of the White House congressional liaison office; and Herbert Horowitz of the Department of State.

Since the first congressional delegation went to the People's Republic of China in 1972, there have been over 70 Members of Congress who have visited China.

The present delegation was scheduled to visit China last November, but the continuation of the congressional session forced postponement of the original timing.

The exchange relationship fulfills that part of the Shanghai Communiqué in which both sides pledged to foster broader understanding and engage in cultural and scientific exchanges.