Kuala Lumpurmust honor commitments to protect the legal rights, interests of families

China called on Malaysia on Thursday to fulfill its obligation to compensate families of Flight MH370 passengers and continue to search for the plane, after Malaysia declared the disappearance an accident.

"At this moment of sadness, the Chinese government expresses its deep sorrow for the misery of those on board, and offers its profound sympathies and sincere condolences to their families," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in a statement.

Her comments came after Director General of the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation Azharuddin Abdul Rahman announced on Thursday that missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is lost and all aboard are presumed dead.

The plane, a Boeing 777 aircraft with 239 people on board, including 154 Chinese, disappeared on March 8 last year shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing.

Azharuddin said all passengers and crewmembers on the flight are presumed dead and that the search remains a priority.

Hua said Malaysia's declaration was based on available satellite data and results of the search operation to date, in compliance with provisions of the Chicago Convention, Annex 13. It states that a flight incident can be declared an accident if an airplane is missing.

"We call on Malaysia to act on the commitments made in the declaration of an accident to fulfill its obligation to compensate, protect the lawful rights and interests of the families and provide them with support and assistance," Hua said.

"We also call on Malaysia to remain fully committed to the search and investigation efforts and keep the families updated on the latest progress," she said.

The Chinese government will work closely with the governments of Malaysia and Australia, participate in the search and investigation efforts, provide the families with all necessary services and uphold their lawful rights and interests, said Hua.

Since the flight disappeared, "the entire Chinese nation has been deeply concerned about the fate of their fellow countrymen aboard MH370," the spokeswoman said, adding that the families of those on board have been gripped by enormous anxiety and grief.

President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other Party and State leaders have given important instructions on numerous occasions to make sure that every possible effort is made to locate the air-craft, she said.

The Chinese government mobilized massive resources in the unprecedented search operation, involving 21 satellites, 19 vessels, 13 aircraft and over 2,500 personnel, as well as Chinese experts, in the investigation and search, according to Hua.

Cheng Liping, whose husband, Ju, was on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8 last year, shows a family photo featuring her missing husband (top right) during an interview in July at a park in Beijing near her house. Kim Kyunghoon / Reuters