(VOVworld) – The transport ministers of Malaysia, Australia, and China met in Canberra, Australia, on Monday to discuss the next phase of the search for the missing Malaysian plane.

Officials of Malaysia, Australia, and China at the meeting in Canberra, Australia, on Monday. (Photo: AFP)

A communiqué said the three countries appreciate the contributions of the 26 countries, who have aided the search in the East Sea, Malacca Straits, and South Indian Ocean. The ministers said the search will require a prolonged effort and the next stage will involve a long search of a larger area of ocean floor. Search activities will include analyzing selected data to choose the most likely search areas, conducting a survey of the search area’s depth, and preparing highly specialized search vehicles.