Visa Exemption Extended For Five Years To Boost Economy
PUTRAJAYA, April 22 (Bernama) -- The Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV) for Chinese visitors has been extended for another five years, as the initiative has shown immediate positive impact on the country's economy, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the decision to extend the PLV was part of a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and documents signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Malaysia, covering various sectors of cooperation.
Among them was a joint visa exemption agreement for holders of public affairs and ordinary passports, signed by Saifuddin Nasution and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
'We will extend it for the next five years, and after that, there will be an option to renew it for another five years - allowing Chinese nationals to stay in our country for up to 90 days as tourists.
'And China will reciprocate with the same arrangement for us,' he told reporters after the Home Ministry's monthly assembly here today.
The Visa Liberalisation Plan is designed to boost national income and will be implemented by enhancing existing immigration facilities available to travellers from various regions, including Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and West Asia.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the joint visa exemption agreement will deepen exchanges and cooperation, further advancing the China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
Saifuddin Nasution said the arrangement has already shown positive results, with tourist arrivals from China on the rise. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chinese tourists spend an average of RM7,000 during their stay in Malaysia.
'So when we look at the arrival numbers, it's clear that this is a formula with immediate economic benefits and a significant impact,' he said.
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