CRI听力:Chinese Warships in Search Area; Envoy Meets Malaysian PM

Three Chinese naval vessels have joined in the ongoing multinational hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, following the resumption of the search on Wednesday.

The ships have been searching an area 2,000 kilometres southwest of Perth, Australia.

The commander of the Chinese search is Dong Yan.

"The fleet is carrying out a blanket search in single file, taking full advantage of eyesight, radar, sonar and night vision devices. The focus is on searching for floating objects."

Meanwhile, Chinese icebreaker Xuelong has also arrived in the area where Chinese airborne searchers spotted some suspicious objects on Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says the search remains the top priority.

Currently, in the suspect area, besides an Australian supply ship there are no other ships or aircrafts searching for the debris. So after the Chinese vessels arrive, it will enhance the search effort performed with aircraft, which will help to find the floating objects and make confirmation as soon as possible."

In Kuala Lumpur, Chinese special envoy and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui has met with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and called for unremitting efforts in the search effort.

He was sent by President Xi Jinping to urge the Malaysian authorities to do everything that can possibly be done to locate the missing plane.

The Australian parliament stood in silence on Wednesday in remembrance of the passengers and crew from the lost Malaysia Airliner.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said numerous floating objects have been spotted by satellite and aircraft in the search zone.

However nothing has been positively identified as coming from the missing jet.

"A considerable amount of debris has been sighted in the area where the flight was last recorded. Bad weather and inaccessibility has so far prevented any of it from being recovered. But we are confident that we will be."

A dozen aircraft from Japan, Australia, the United States, and South Korea will continue to scour the seas in the hunt for debris from the missing passenger jet.

Meanwhile the Malaysian authorities have revealed more details about the large number of objects being found so far.

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said around 122 objects have been identified in new satellite imagery.

At a press conference this afternoon, the minister said the latest satellite images were taken on Sunday and provided Tuesday by France-based Airbus Defense and Space.

The newly identified objects were located just over 25-hundred km from Perth.

Some objects are as small as one meter in length, while others are as long as 23 meters, the minister said, adding that some items appear to be bright, possibly indicating solid materials.