Visa-free extension heralds new era of Malaysia-China relations

New Straits Times

26-04-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The extension of visa-free travel between Malaysia and China is a strategic move that not only reflects deepening bilateral ties but also promises to boost cross-sectoral cooperation in tourism, education, and business, experts said.
The arrangement is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people connections, enabling deeper cultural exchange, understanding, and academic ties between the two nations.
Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) Deputy Executive Director, Associate Prof Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, said the mutual visa exemption will not only benefit both governments and businesses, but also pave the way for greater opportunities to strengthen people-to-people connections.
"The visa exemption will increase the flow of people, which is something we should encourage, because for the past 50 years, bilateral relations have been too focused on government-to-government engagement.
"It is time to promote second and third track diplomacy through this visa exemption," he told Bernama.
Echoing similar views, chairman of the Centre for Regional Strategic Studies (CROSS), Lee Chean Chung, said the decision underscored the robust bilateral ties between the two nations, shaped by mutual trust and confidence.
He said the initiative is poised to effectively promote economic growth across sectors such as tourism, academic collaboration, and healthcare tourism.
"This will allow a wider array of Chinese visitors to Malaysia, encompassing not only tourists but also parents accompanying students, and individuals seeking medical treatment.
"This extended stay supports longer staycations and short-term visits, potentially ranging from a couple of weeks to a month, which is undoubtedly positive news for Malaysia's tourism sector," he told Bernama.
"When visits are short, interactions are limited. With more time, visitors can immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and communities," he said.
Likewise, Lee said the agreement will also open opportunities for Malaysians to explore China more extensively.
"Previously, due to time constraints, many only visited coastal cities.
Now, there's an opportunity to venture further inland and truly understand each other's cultures," he said.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit here recently, Malaysia and China signed 31 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), notes, and cooperation agreements spanning various sectors.
Among them was an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of public affairs and ordinary passports, exchanged between Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
On April 22, Saifuddin announced that the Malaysia–China visa-free period would be extended for five years.
Under the Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV), Chinese nationals entering Malaysia as tourists may stay for up to 90 days visa-free, with China reciprocating the arrangement.
– Bernama