China has urged Malaysia to keep looking for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The plane went missing in March 2014, and was never found.
Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier had asked the Malaysian government to keep enforcing search operations on the missing plane after the latter has announced on Thursday that search operations will be halted and all crew and passengers, 239 of them, were presumed dead. Malaysian Airlines has officially declared that the plane's disappearance was an accident.
Out of the plane's 239 passengers, 154 of them are Chinese.
"We hope Malaysia will act on its commitment and continue search and investigation efforts, fulfill its compensation obligation, make every possible effort to find the whereabouts of the plane and the passengers," the Chinese premiere said.
Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014. Just 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur airport on its way to Beijing, China.
"It is a hard time for the families of everyone on board (the plane) and all of us as well," Keqiang told the press. He added that the Chinese government will continue searching for the wreckage and its passengers.
He also expressed sympathy to those who were onboard the Boeing 777-200 plane during the tragic accident.
The official declaration of accident will pave the way for families to start receiving compensation from the airlines. However, not many are pleased with Malaysia's decision to halt search operations, since there are relatives of passengers onboard flight MH370 who are still hoping that their loved ones are still be alive.
According to Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, Civil aviation chief, the Malaysian government has exhausted every possible way to search for the missing plane. They have also reviewed all information and lead that might help them locate the missing aircraft, sources say.
The lack of physical evidence prompted Malaysian authorities to stop investigations on the disappearance of the Malaysian aircraft. Rahman added that the decision did not come easy, and it was with a heavy heart that they have decided to officially declare the disappearance of the plane as an "accident."
Without in any way intending to diminish the feelings of the families, it is hoped that this declaration will enable the families to obtain the assistance they need, in particular through the compensation process," Rahman said.
