Partial Abolition Of Visa Requirements Effective May 18 Minister

BEIJING (Bernama) - Malaysia and China on Monday exchanged the
Notes of Agreement on the partial abolition of visa requirement for holders of
diplomatic and official passports effective May 18, said Foreign Minister Anifah
Aman.

Anifah said he exchanged the notes with his Chinese counterpart, Yang
Jiechi, Monday morning.

"With that, one month from now, all holders of Malaysian and China
diplomatic and official passports will be exempted from applying for a visa to
visit China or Malaysia," he told a news conference, here.

Anifah who is on an official visit to China from April 17 to 24, said this
was his first visit to China as foreign minister.

He also held bilateral talks with Yang Jiechi which he said, would help
strengthen Malaysia-China relations at different levels and in various sectors.

"Both countries agreed that strategic cooperation between Malaysia and
China
was vital and relations between the two have been strengthened in many areas.

"We discussed enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation in trade and
investment, information, culture, science and technology, and education.

"We also discussed on the best approaches and mechanisms to enhance regional
cooperation, especially between Asean and China, and on the East Asia Summit,"
he said.

Anifah said his visit was also to prepare for China's Premier Wen Jiabao's
visit to Malaysia scheduled for April 27 and 28.

He said two agreements would be signed during Wen's visit, namely the
agreement on mutual recognition of academic degrees and the agreement on
enhancing economic and trade cooperation between Malaysia and China.