KUALA LUMPUR: The visa center at the Embassy of China here offers 1,000 appointment slots for visa applications a day now.

Since China reopened its borders, the visa center here has approved close to 70,000 visas of which 30% are multiple-entry visas.

Ambassador Ouyang Yujing said in an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that he understands Malaysians’ need for visas to visit China for business or travel.

The visa center is gradually increasing the number of appointment slots as the number of applications spikes.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the Embassy of China resumed issuing visas on January 8 for business and travel to visit relatives, and tourist visas on March 15.

Currently, the visa center has increased the number of appointments to 1,000 a day, and is now providing a “green lane” service for emergency visa applications as well as customized visa applications.

The ambassador said he visited the visa center two or three weeks ago to check on the efficiency of service.

As many are submitting applications to renew their visas at this juncture, the visa center has issued up to 1,200 appointment slots at one time.

However, Ouyang believes the peak season for visa application will be over soon as things are back to normal.

“I believe the crowd will be getting smaller soon compared to two to three months ago,” he said.