KUALA LUMPUR: The government hopes that China will reciprocate the 30-day visa exemption facility granted by Malaysia to its nationals visiting here.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, also known as Tok Mat, said Malaysians are presently only allowed to visit China without a visa for up to 15 days.“We propose that it be based on reciprocity. We request that China provide 30 days, just as we do.
“This is to make it easier for Malaysians to visit the country and establish contacts with the people there, especially those travelling on business,” he said during question time at the Dewan Negara yesterday, Bernama reported.
He was responding to Senator Prof Emeritus Datuk Seri Dr Awang Sariyan who wanted to know the steps taken to improve people-to-people and government-to-government relations between Malaysia and China.
Malaysia granted visa exemption for 30 days to Chinese and Indian citizens to visit the country through the Visa Liberalisation Plan, which came into effect on Dec 1 last year.
During his visit to Beijing in May, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that China was set to extend visa-free travel for Malaysian tourists from 15 to 30 days.
Ahmad Zahid, who was on his first official visit to China, made the announcement during a luncheon hosted by Chinese vice-premier Ding Xuexiang in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.
He said the date of implementation will be decided later.
Ahmad Zahid had also raised the matter during a courtesy call on Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Malaysia and China agreed to extend the visa exemption programme for visitors from both countries to strengthen bilateral ties.
In June, at the conclusion of Li Qiang’s official three-day visit to Malaysia, both countries stated that China had agreed to extend its visa exemption facility for Malaysian citizens until the end of 2025, with Malaysia to extend the visa exemption for Chinese citizens until the end of 2026.
The visa-free policy would allow Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passports to enter China for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes.
