A never-ending quest for missing MH370

327 days on, the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was finally announced as an "accident" and all 239 onboard the plane are presumed dead.

This means the compensation process and possible litigation for the families of those lost souls will soon start. But more than that, the quest for the missing plane should not stop.

For many, the declaration was bound to come "sooner-or-later" after large scale international efforts proved futile, with more questions than answers.

For the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew members onboard, this is nothing short of another blow. They still deserve an answer.

Even Malaysia Airlines, which suffered a series of setbacks and boycotts after the accident, needs to strive to prove that its planes are still safe.

China has never forgotten the 154 Chinese nationals, who will never return home again. In his televised new year speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "we haven't forgotten them, and we will continue to try every way to find them."

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, after the Malaysian declaration, also called on Malaysia to continue to exert all efforts to find Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and its passengers.

The Chinese government mobilized massive resources in the search for the plane, including 21 satellites, 19 vessels, 13 aircraft and more than 2,500 personnel were dispatched to get involved in the investigation, said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. The international community also brought several assets.

Even if the amount of money spent on assets and personnel are enormous, such efforts should continue. The Malaysian government should honor its promises that "this declaration is by no means the end."

Maybe it is time for distraught families to move on. But whether the souls of the 239 onboard can be truly remembered will be decided by whether commitments are honored and whether continued efforts are delivered.