China promises to keep in contact on MH370

China has promised to keep "close communication and co-operation" with Australia and Malaysia over missing Flight 370 despite the search being called off.

China says it will continue to keep in contact with other countries on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 even after the three countries ended the underwater search for the plane.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, told reporters that China remained "highly concerned" about the March 8, 2014, crash that killed 239 people, nearly two-thirds of them Chinese.

Hua promised "close communication and co-operation" with Australia and Malaysia.

The three countries announced on Tuesday they were suspending search operations, which have cost an estimated $160 million over nearly three years.

Some relatives of the MH370 victims said they were not satisfied with rescue efforts and wanted them to continue.

Hua declined to comment on the search operation itself.