China urges continuation of search for MH370

China on Monday urged Malaysia to step up international cooperation and mobilize all available resources in the continued search for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.   [Special coverage]

The search for MH370 must not stop even for a moment before the wreckage is found, Chinese vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said while meeting with visiting Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin.

Zhang said the search for the missing plane is still the top priority at the current stage, and that China will continue to input more resources into the search.

"China hopes the Malaysian side will share the information and data it has, comprehensively and immediately, " he said.

Zhang also said the search and investigation should push forward in parallel to strive for a breakthrough at an early date, adding that Chinese experts would like to fully cooperate with the Malaysian side.

Zhang expressed the hope that the Malaysian side can meet the reasonable demands of the families of the Chinese passengers on the missing plane.

Hamzah said the Malaysian side appreciates China's assistance in the search and investigation, as well as in the efforts to appease families of the Chinese passengers.

The Malaysian side will insist on the search continuing, said Hamzah, pledging that his country will never give up until it finds the missing plane and will carry out an in-depth investigation.

He said the Malaysian side understands the anxiety of Chinese families.

The Malaysian side sincerely hopes that it can face the current challenge with the Chinese side, Hamzah said.

Also on Monday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng held a working talk with Hamzah over the missing plane.

China has deployed 21 satellites and sent more than ten vessels and dozens of aircraft for the search, Xie told Hamzah, adding that the country also made several appeals to other countries to cooperate the search.

"It is unprecedented for us to mobilize so many resources for a search," Xie said.

Hamzah said Malaysia will never give up the search and update information unreservedly.

Highlighting that the Malaysian side attaches great importance to relations with China, he said he hopes both sides could work together to ensure the smooth and sound development of bilateral ties.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200ER, went missing on its way to Beijing on March 8, shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. The plane was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, including 154 Chinese.