Question: The recently signed “China-Malaysia Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement” has become a hot topic in both countries. How does the embassy comment on this?
Answer: Last month, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Malaysia, which added strong impetus to building the China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future and advance it to the new height of high-level strategic development. It will undoubtedly usher China-Malaysia relations into another “Golden 50 Years”. The Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement was exchanged at the witness of both leaders during this visit. It will take into effect soon after domestic procedures are completed by both countries. The agreement shall be in force for a period of 5 years. Thereafter, it shall be automatically extended for a further period of 5 years.
According to this agreement, treatments provided to nationals of one country making visa-free visits to the other remain unchanged, which means, nationals of one country can enter into and stay on the territory of the other for up to 30 days per entry.
In addition, in line with relevant international norms, the agreement explicitly stipulates the maximum cumulative visa-free stay for nationals of one contracting party in the territory of the other: no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. For foreign nationals entering China under the visa-free policy, this means that, the total number of days a foreign national stays in China must not exceed 90 within 180 days prior to any date. The 90-day period does not include the days spent in China under visa, residence permit and other visa documents or APEC Business Travel Card. The visa-free entry will not be granted to any foreigner whose cumulative duration of visa-free stay has reached 90 days within a 180-day period. In the case where a foreigner's cumulative duration of stay has not reached 90 days while the remaining period is less than 30 days, the visa-free stay period for the foreigner concerned for this entry shall not exceed the remaining visa-free stay period. Chinese citizens going to Malaysia would follow the same practice.
We are confident that this agreement will further promote people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and deepen multi-sector cooperation between both countries and people upon taking effect. It will mark a new step forward in advancing the high-level strategic China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia will be working as dedicated as before to support and promote the friendly exchanges between peoples of both countries.