CRI听力:Li Calls on Malaysia to Continue Efforts to Find MH370

The Chinese Premier's call came after Malaysia officially declared all passengers aboard the missing plane are presumed dead earlier Thursday.

Director General of Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.

"With the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident in accordance with the standards of Annexes 12 and 13 to the Chicago Convention and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives."

The Malaysia Civil Aviation chief adds that Malaysia is committed to continue all reasonable efforts to bring closure to this tragedy with the continuing cooperation and assistance of China and Australia.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, with 239 people on board, disappeared shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8 en-route to Beijing.

At a joint press conference with visiting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang firstly offered deep sympathy and sincere condolences.

"The Chinese government and Chinese people express deep sorrow for the misery of all the people on board, including 154 Chinese nationals and four French ones, and offer our profound sympathies and sincere condolences to their families. It is a difficult moment for all the families and every one of us."

The Premier also called for continued search efforts.

"We hope the Malaysian side act on their commitments, fulfill its obligation of investigation, compensation and comforting of the families. Particularly, the Malaysian side should try all possible means to find the whereabouts of the plane and the passengers."

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry says that consoling the families of MH370 passengers is another priority for the Chinese government.

The Malaysian announcement is believed to have cleared the way for the airline to pay compensation to victims' relatives while the search for the plane goes on.

For CRI, this is Qizhi.