KUALA LUMPUR, July 19: The mutual visa exemption between Malaysia and China is a timely and positive step towards strengthening bilateral relations, says the President of the China Entrepreneurs’ Association in Malaysia, Datuk Keith Li.
He said the agreement is expected to further boost economic ties and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
“It’s really a positive step that fosters stronger ties between the two nations,” said the Chinese national, who runs an agency specialising in travel between China and Malaysia.
According to Malaysia China Insight, a bilingual online magazine that promotes friendship between the two countries, visitor arrivals from China to Malaysia are up by more than a third so far this year, eclipsing pre-pandemic numbers. Individual travellers and families have particularly benefited from the visa waivers.
A Chinese tourist, Hong Na, said that previously, obtaining a visa required months of planning and was a hassle.
“Before, getting a visa required planning months ahead. It was a hassle. Now, we can just pack our bags and go whenever we want,” she said.
A similar view was expressed by another tourist from China, Echo Liu, who said the agreement had made it easier for her to travel to Malaysia.
“This is our first overseas trip. We were nervous about visas and language barriers, but everything has been smooth,” she said.
On July 16, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia announced that Malaysian citizens would enjoy visa-free entry to China for short-term visits totalling up to 90 days within 180 days, starting July 17.
Under the China-Malaysia Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption, Malaysian and Chinese passport holders may enter, exit, or transit through each other’s countries without a visa and stay for up to 30 days per visit.
The agreement to extend visa exemption between China and Malaysia was exchanged during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Kuala Lumpur in April.
— BERNAMA