The implementation of e-visa system for Chinese nationals will be discussed during Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s working visit, from today till Feb 4.
Malaysia’s Ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya said Ahmad Zahid is expected to arrive in the capital at 10pm today and this will be his first working visit to China as the Deputy Prime Minister.
“The purpose of the visit is to call on the leaders of China and hold meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Public Security, Gou Shengkun to discuss on the e-visa implementation,” he told journalists here today.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, will also hold meetings with Central Political and Legal Affairs Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Meng Jiangzhu.
Zainuddin said the Deputy Prime Minister is expected to discuss and exchange views on issues related to bilateral ties between Malaysia and China, regional as well as global.
“The Deputy Prime Minister will also attend a dinner reception on Wednesday (Feb 3) to meet with Malaysian students studying in Beijing,” he said, adding there are about 800 students here sponsored by the government and private sector.
Besides e-visa, Zainuddin said Ahmad Zahid would also exchange views and share efforts with China on the development to counter terrorism and radicalisation activities.
He also hoped the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit would expedite the imlpementation of the e-visa system, which would help to attract more Chinese travellers to Malaysia.
He said this would also be a good visit for Ahmad Zahid as the Deputy Prime Minister as to allow him the opportunity to strengthen his personal rapport with Chinese leaders.
During the recent Budget 2016 recalibration session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that tourists from China would not require a visa to visit Malaysia between March 1 and Dec 31 this year.
It was reported that Malaysia aimed to draw eight million tourists from China annually over the next five years with RM22.1 billion spending power, compared to the 1.3 million Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia annually.(Samantha Tan Chiew Ting)
Link: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/newsindex.php?id=1212237
20
