Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH37 “the most difficult in history”.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Perth with the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mr Abbott said that search for the missing plane was unprecedented and may not succeed.

“We cannot be certain of success in the search for MH370, ” the Australian PM said. But he told the media that everything “humanly” possible had been done thus far to recover the plane.

Mr Abbott thanked all the people and countries involved with the search, saying the international effort, that included the US, China, Korea and Australia, had been extraordinary.

He also reached out to the families of the passengers on the missing plane saying they were warmly welcome in Australia.

“We will not let you down, and when the time comes for you to visit Australia we will extend you the warmest welcome.”

Malaysian visit

Mr Razak is in Australia to be briefed on the search for missing flight MH370 at the Pearce airbase in Perth.

He was updated on the search efforts and met the personnel coordinating the search.

The Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared nearly four weeks ago with 239 people onboard.

Former Defence Force head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who is coordinating the search, told the two prime ministers the search zones are continually being moved.

“Prime Minister Najib, today you will see in action the remarkable cooperation occurring between the military crews from across our region. and indeed the world, who are contributing to the search effort,” he said.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says up to eight planes and nine ships will continue the effort today.

“The weather forecast for today’s search is fair, with visibility approximately 10 kilometres, however the southern area may experience some isolated showers,” AMSA said in a statement.

“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau continues to refine the area where the aircraft entered the water based on continuing ground-breaking and multi-disciplinary technical analysis of satellite communication and aircraft performance, passed from the international air crash investigative team comprising analysts from Malaysia, the United States, the UK, China and Australia.”

Mr Abbott has contacted China’s premier, Li Keqiang, to update him on the search effort.

During a phone call lasting about half an hour, Mr Abbott expressed his condolences to Mr Li for the loss of hundreds of Chinese citizens on board.

Both countries agreed to continue their contributions towards the search efforts based out of Perth.

Mr Abbott will personally meet Mr Li in southern China next week.

More to come..

With ABC