Malaysia discusses extension of tourist visa from 15 to 30 days with China: Saifuddin

Shanghai – The extension of the tourist visa exemption period for Malaysians to travel to China from 15 to 30 days is among the topics to be discussed during Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s working visit to the country, which begins today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that discussions will also be held on extending the visa-free period end date from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

He said the issues are expected to be discussed tomorrow during Ahmad Zahid’s meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong at the closed session of the 2024 conference of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum Lianyungang (GPSCFL).

“Our position is that we can boost the tourism industry by offering Chinese citizens a 30-day visa-free stay… Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has previously said that China should do the same because China currently only gives us (Malaysian tourists) 15 days without a visa.

“In the closed discussion tomorrow, we will raise the issue again. In the discussion at the official level, China responded positively, but it has not been decided yet. The positive aspect is their willingness to enter into discussions,” he said during a session with Malaysian media today.

Ahmad Zahid’s visit to China, from today until September 12, coincides with the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum Lianyungang (GPSCFL), which will be held in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province on September 8-9. The visit is being held at the joint invitation of GPSCFL Chairman Tsang Wai-Hung and China Association for Friendship Chairman Chen Zinmin.

During Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Malaysia in June, it was reported that China had agreed to extend the visa waiver for Malaysians until the end of 2025, while Malaysia in turn extended the same option for Chinese citizens until the end of 2026.

These efforts reflect the commitment of both countries to further promote and strengthen Malaysia-China ties.

Furthermore, Saifuddin Nasution stressed that Malaysia will focus on transnational crime issues such as human trafficking and cybercrime at the forum. He stressed that these new challenges require joint efforts and cooperation between countries.

“For Malaysia and China, tackling transnational crime involves several elements, notably enhancing cooperation and capacity of law enforcement agencies and sharing intelligence on transnational criminal activities,” he said.

“This cooperation must succeed, especially in sharing information on drug activities or crimes such as cybercrime and financial fraud. Both countries must commit to sharing this information,” he said.

Malaysia and China had previously extended an agreement on cooperation to combat transnational crime, which remains in force until 2034. The extension was formalised at the fifth meeting of the Malaysia-People’s Republic of China Joint Working Group on Combating Transnational Crime in Beijing in June.

He also noted that at a recent conference in Laos, the ASEAN Secretary-General highlighted the growing global trend of transnational crime over the past two years, with estimated losses of US$1.02 trillion.

Saifuddin Nasution also shared that initial discussions have begun with the National Security Council to prioritize national security and crime threats. The goal is to focus efforts on resolving these issues more effectively.

“Each country has its own list of priority crime threats. In China, for example, the focus is on financial fraud. Malaysia should also have a similar list, making it easier to strengthen cooperation with countries that share the same priorities,” he said.

At the ASEAN level, he noted that two elements – maritime piracy and international economic crime – have been removed from the bloc’s security and crime priorities, while online fraud has been added to the list. – September 8, 2024

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