Wisma Putra has welcomed mutual visa exemption agreements between Malaysia and China as enhancing cooperation in education, tourism, and youth and sports exchanges. The agreements, the ministry stated in a joint statement with China during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, gave priority to people-to-people relations, with more mutual travel and cultural exchanges.
Malaysia and China signed 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs), notes, and cooperation agreements, the highlight of which was a mutual visa exemption for tourists between the two nations. Malaysians are currently allowed to travel to China visa-free until Dec 31 this year, while Chinese citizens have visa-free travel to Malaysia until Dec 31 next year.
The MOU signing was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Xi. The exemption was on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.
Both parties also recognized the warm affection Malaysians have expressed towards the giant pandas at Zoo Negara, which is a living symbol of friendship, and agreed to pursue collaborative research in panda conservation. The two nations are gratified to notice that Malaysian pandas are warmly welcomed by the people of Malaysia and have become a key symbol of China-Malaysia friendship.
"The two parties agreed to continue to make joint researches on panda conservation and hope to make more achievements in this sector," said the Foreign Ministry in the statement made on Thursday (April 17)".
Xi started his visit on Tuesday at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. The visit was Xi's second to Malaysia in 12 years, following the last one in 2013 when the two nations elevated diplomatic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Xi left Malaysia for Cambodia on Thursday after wrapping up a three-day state visit.
