PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra has hailed reciprocal visa exemption agreements between Malaysia and China as boosting cooperation in education, tourism, and exchanges in youth and sport activities.
The agreements, the ministry said in a joint statement with China in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, priortised people-to-people relations, promising more mutual travel and cultural exchanges.
On Wednesday (April 16), Malaysia and China signed 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs), notes and cooperation agreements, with the highlight being a mutual visa exemption for travellers between the two countries.
Currently, Malaysians can travel to China visa-free until Dec 31 this year, while Chinese nationals enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia until Dec 31 next year.
The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Xi.
The exemption was in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
Both sides also acknowledged the warm affection Malaysians have shown toward the giant pandas at Zoo Negara, described as a living symbol of friendship, and agreed to continue joint research in panda conservation.
"The two countries are pleased to see that pandas in Malaysia are warmly welcomed by the Malaysian people and have become an important symbol of China-Malaysia friendship.
"The two sides agreed to continue to conduct joint research on panda protection and expect to achieve more progress in this field," said the Foreign Ministry in the statement issued on Thursday (April 17).
Xi began his visit on Tuesday at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
This visit was Xi's second to Malaysia in 12 years, after the last one in 2013, which saw the two countries upgrade diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Xi departed Malaysia for Cambodia on Thursday after concluding a three-day state visit.
