Malaysia agrees to visa-free entry for Chinese tourists in principle   

(ECNS) - The Malaysia cabinet has agreed in principle to allow a visa exemption for Chinese tourists, according to Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The minister said that some problems, especially security, still need time to be solved before the visa-free policy comes into effect.

Zahid added that he is not sure when the policy will be implemented.

Easing visa requirements for tourists from China will boost tourism and strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and China, some Malaysian media said.

More than 100 million Chinese tourists had traveled abroad by November of 2014, and the total number projected for that year is over 116 million, an increase of 18 percent, according to China's National Tourism Administration. 

Many ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries have waived visa requirements for Chinese tourists.

Owing to visa-free access, the number of Chinese visitors to Thailand in 2013 grew from 22.4 to 26.5 million, an increase of 18.8 percent, Xinhua reported.