Malaysia, China drop visas for diplomatic, official passports
(The Malaysian Insider) – BEIJING: Malaysia and China today agreed to partially abolish the need to have visas for their holders of diplomatic and official or service passports for travel to each other’s countries.
This partial abolition of the visa agreement was part of four Memoranda of Understanding signed between Malaysia and China today at a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People here that were witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
Malaysia also signed an MoU on a Joint Action Plan on Strategic Cooperation with the Chinese government.
Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman signed the MoUs on behalf of the government together with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, on the first two MoUs. Anifah also signed an MoU on cooperation in marine science and technology with a Chinese administration official.
Also present at the ceremony were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Minister in the Primne Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
The Joint Action Plan on Strategic Cooperation comprehensively covers 12 areas in political, economic, trade and finance, culture and education, science and technology, health, defence and security, agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary, tourism, human resources, energy, forestry, and regional and international cooperation.
The agreement on cooperation in marine science and technology covers areas in marine policy exchange and cooperation, integrated coastal zone management, eco-environmental protection, marine scientific research, ocean disaster reduction, satellite and remote sensing, joint marine equipment development, marine information and data exchange, ocean energy exploration and research, sea bed resources exploration and exploitation technology, polar science, marine surveillance and others.
The fourth MoU signed was between Pos Malaysia and China Post and it pertained to express mail and parcel services, bulk mail, cross border e-commerce, international finance, and logistics. Pos Malaysia was represented by its chairman, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, while Li Wa Ding, general manager of China Post, signed on behalf of the Chinese side.
