China welcomes first batch of Malaysian travelers after visa-free agreement takes effect

A flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, landed at the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province early Thursday morning.

This marks the first direct flight from Malaysia to China on the day the visa exemption agreement between the two countries officially took effect.

Under the policy, Chinese and Malaysian citizens holding valid ordinary passports can enter, exit or transit through the other country for travel without a visa. Each stay should not exceed 30 days, with a cumulative limit of 90 days within any 180-day period.

"It's quite convenient for us not to have to apply for a visa. We can directly purchase air tickets and come here, which really saves a lot of time. Many people I know are also visiting China because it's so convenient," a Malaysian traveler said in an interview with China Central Television at the Gaoqi Airport.

According to the Gaoqi border inspection station, during the trial period of the visa-free policy, which runs from Dec 1, 2023 to July 16, 2025, over 178,000 Chinese citizens traveled to Malaysia via ports in Xiamen for tourism and business purposes.

This is a nearly 97-percent increase in daily average travelers compared with that before the policy was implemented.

Fujian is a well-known ancestral home of overseas Chinese. From Jan 1 to July 16 this year, the Gaoqi border inspection station processed over 234,000 exits and entries made by Chinese and Malaysian travelers, marking nearly a 30-percent increase year on year.

Cross-border travel is becoming increasingly convenient, with the number of Malaysian travelers ranking first among foreign inbound visitors at Xiamen's ports.

"By strengthening information sharing with airlines and port authorities, closely monitoring passenger flow, and optimizing inspection methods in real time, we have further enhanced customs clearance efficiency and provided more convenient services for travelers between China and Malaysia," said Shen Wenjuan, an official with the Gaoqi border inspection station.

Currently, there are 68 flights each week between Kuala Lumpur and Xiamen. Xiamen Airlines operates four round trips daily, while Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air each offer three round trips per week.

China welcomes first batch of Malaysian travelers after visa-free agreement takes effect

U.S. economic activity rose slightly in most districts, with three regions reporting no changes and one region experiencing a moderate decline, the U.S. Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book released on Thursday.

This indicates an improvement compared to the last three reporting periods, during which most regions reported little change in economic activity, according to the Beige Book.

It shows that the outlook for future activity is mildly optimistic, with most expecting slight to modest growth in the coming months.

Most banks reported that the consumer spending went up slightly over the holiday season, buoyed by strong spending from higher-income consumers. Employment was mostly unchanged in the most recent period, with eight of the twelve districts reporting no changes in hiring. Prices grew at a moderate rate across a large majority of districts, with only two districts reporting slight price growth, the survey said.

Cost pressures resulting from tariffs were a consistent theme across all districts, it said.

The Beige Book, officially known as the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District, is a survey on economic conditions based on information collected from its 12 regional reserve banks. It is published eight times per year.

US economic activity shows moderate growth amid inflation pressure: Fed Beige Book