KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia will grant 30-day visa-free travel for Chinese citizens starting Dec 1 this year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Sunday.

This move is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China next year, Anwar said in his remarks at the annual congress of People's Justice Party, of which he is the president.

The visa-free facility will follow security procedures to screen visitors and tourists. Details on the visa exemption will be announced by the Minister of Home Affairs soon, according to Malaysian national news agency Bernama.

Anwar also thanked China for its decision to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Malaysia.