PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia-China visa-free period will be extended for five years, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution.
"We will continue this for five more years with the option to extend it for another five years after this period ends. This means that Chinese nationals entering the country as tourists can do so for 90 days (visa-free) with China also reciprocating,” he said.
On Wednesday (April 16), Malaysia and China signed 31 MOUs, notes and cooperation agreements, with the highlight being a mutual visa exemption for travellers between the two countries.
Saifuddin then said that almost one million Chinese tourists have entered the country this year to date.
“If you remember, in 2023, the Prime Minister announced a liberalisation of visas and we took it as a trial period of a year," he said after the ministry's monthly meeting here on Tuesday (April 22).
"From 30 days, we extended the visa-free period in Malaysia to 90 days and also asked China to reciprocate but at that time, we were given only 15 days.
“In the trial period, we saw the impact through an increase in tourism. It stimulated our economy at an immediate pace.
“Following that, the ministry was tasked to continue negotiations with China. During the recent visit by President Xi Jinping, one of the MOUs signed was on the issuing of visas.
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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.
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The MOU signing 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.
