Malaysia and China are strengthening cooperation to combat transboundary crime due to the expected entry of five million Chinese nationals, including tourists and students, into Malaysia each year.

NONE Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said there were about three million Chinese nationals in Malaysia at the moment as tourists, students or workers, while some had entered the country illegally.

"Therefore, a detailed discussion will be held between the immigration authorities of the two countries, focusing on the visa arrangement in finding a mechanism to address the issue," Hishammuddin said after chairing the first meeting of the Malaysia-China working group to combat transnational crime in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present at the meeting was China's Public Security Minister Meng Jianzu, who arrived yesterday for a three-day working visit to Malaysia.

The formation of the working group had been agreed upon through a cooperation agreement to fight the crime signed with Meng in Beijing on Aug 2.

Through the agreement, Malaysia and China will focus on efforts to combat transboundary crime, including terrorism, cyber crime, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, drug trafficking and economic crime, as well as on border control and public order.

The agreement with China is the fourth security cooperation document signed by Malaysia with its strategic partners, after Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Today's meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the enforcement agencies of the two countries, sharing of information and intelligence, conducting joint investigations and sharing of findings, exchange visits by personnel and repatriation of suspects.

- Bernama