China and Malaysia have agreed to extend their mutual visa-free policy following the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Malaysia this week.
According to China’s official media, Xinhua News Agency, China will extend the facility until the end of 2025, while Malaysia will extend the visa exemption until the end of 2026.
This agreement is part of a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership towards a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
The mutual visa exemption policy has been in place since December last year, and the Malaysian tourism market has experienced positive momentum with the influx of Chinese tourists.
In a recent annual general meeting (AGM) of Malaysian gaming operator Genting Malaysia, the management praised the mutual visa exemption between Malaysia, India, and China, noting that the policy has had beneficial effects on their business.
The group’s COO mentioned that in the first quarter of 2024, revenue from Genting’s local leisure and hotel business increased by 25 percent year-on-year. Resorts World Genting’s business volume also increased significantly, with the main tourists coming from Singapore, Indonesia, China, and India.