KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The most urgent task now is to speed up the search-and-rescue and investigation of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, said Guo Shaochun, the head of a Chinese joint working group in charge of the incident Wednesday.

In a joint meeting presided over by the Department of Civil Aviation of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Guo said all China, especially the families of the Chinese passengers on board the missing jet, keenly hoped to be informed by Malaysia of detailed working progress on the issue.

China would like to keep close communication and coordination with Malaysia, Guo said. He also proposed setting up a liaison mechanism between relevant departments of the two countries.

The whereabouts of flight MH 370, a Boeing 777-200, have been unknown since it suddenly vanished from radar early Saturday morning while carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.