KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China have agreed in principle to recognise each other's Covid-19 digital vaccination certificates or Covid-19 health certificates which would ease cross-border movement between the two countries in a post-pandemic future.
The move was announced by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Nanping City, Fujian Province.
The Minister is on a two-day working visit to the People's Republic of China.
The people's republic is the second country after Singapore which announced their commitment with Malaysia to mutually recognise Covid-19 vaccination certification to facilitate future cross-border travel.
"On cross-border travel, both sides have agreed to finalise the standard operating procedures (SOP) and an early conclusion to negotiations on a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) between Malaysia and China.
"I also conveyed to his Excellency on the need for Malaysian students to return and
continue their studies in China, as well as many families who are waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.
"I would like to thank His Excellency Wang Yi for his commitment to resolving the matter expediently following consultations with the relevant health and border authorities," he said.
Malaysia, he said, welcomed and appreciated China's commitment last year in providing Malaysia with Chinese-produced vaccines, and listing Malaysia as a priority recipient.
He said both countries have agreed that more in-depth discussions must be undertaken by all stakeholders which involve many agencies and ministries before an announcement can be
made soon to realise this pledge.
Hishammuddin also thanked China President Xi Jinping's pledge to make safe and affordable vaccines a "global public good".
"On that front, Malaysia has procured two types of Chinese-made vaccines, specifically SinoVac and CanSino.
"Following our meeting today, we are now considering to add the amount and further expand the application of second and third generation Chinese-made vaccines," he said.
At the same press conference, Hishammuddin also announced that Malaysia and China have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a high-level committee to elevate cooperation between the two nations post Covid-19 pandemic era.
The committee would act as an overarching bilateral mechanism, overseeing the implementation of all understandings and provide policy guidance for all aspects of Malaysia-China relations on pandemic preparedness and response, trade and investment, commodity, food security, science, technology and innovation, travel facilitation as well as "Belt and Road" initiative projects.
"This is historic for Malaysia-China relations as it is the first MoU of its kind for Malaysia, specifically focused on elevating cooperation in the post-pandemic era.
"And we are proud to have signed this with China. This signifies the determination that both foreign ministers have, to drive forward our relations into the new bilateral landscape,
"Our efforts will initially focus on laying a solid foundation for reciprocal visits by our leaders – for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to conduct an official visit to the People's Republic of China soon, and for the leadership of China to visit Malaysia as well," said Hishammuddin.
Under the newly established high-level committee, both countries also deliberated on several other matters including food security as well as trade and investment.
"We emphasised the need for a collective effort to ensure a sustainable global supply chain – ensuring equal physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
"Malaysia is embarking on an International Food Security Coalition (IFSC) and we look forward to China's participation once the relevant agencies look into building this comprehensive ecosystem at the bilateral level," he said.
Malaysia and China elevated their relations from "Strategic Cooperation" to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in 2013, marking a new chapter in the historic ties between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
On trade and investment, he said Malaysia is pleased with the interest shown by China in Malaysia's efforts to enhance the Tanjung Malim and Pagoh Comprehensive Automotive Hubs which will be linked with the ASEAN Automotive Valley (AAV).
"In the same vein, I also informed His Excellency Wang Yi that Malaysia has launched the One Stop Centre (OSC) to facilitate short term, business travellers.
"The OSC will allow swift recovery and reactivation of business connectivity as well as activities between Malaysia and the world, including with China.
"To date, the OSC has received a great number of applications and Malaysia would like to encourage more Chinese entrepreneurs to make use of this safe, friendly and seamless facility," he said.
Malaysia, he said, has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the BRI based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefits and shared prosperity.
"We believe both sides should continue complementing the work of each other by enlisting more projects under this initiative and encouraging inward investments between the two countries," he said.
Bilateral relations between Malaysia and China have grown steadily and significantly last year (2020) despite the challenges of Covid-19 with bilateral trade between both countries expanding by 4.2 per cent reaching RM329.77 billion in total.
China stood as Malaysia's largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years and accounted for 18.6 per cent of Malaysia's total trade, while exports to China contributing 16.2 per cent to Malaysia's total exports in 2020.