Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said the Australian authority had already sent four planes and three ships to the search area, which is in the centre of the Indian Ocean.
No survivors or life rafts have been spotted.
Xiao said China wanted to coordinate with “friendly countries”, including Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, on the search and rescue effort following the capsizing on Tuesday.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the search coordinator, said the upturned hull was spotted Tuesday from a cargo ship 5000 kilometres northwest of Perth.
Chinese authorities say the missing crew includes 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines.
“We wish that they could send more — more aircraft, more ships and more staff,” Xiao told reporters, referring to Australian authorities.
“We wish that our Australian colleagues would coordinate with other international or foreign vessels or ships near that area … to help the search and rescue to save as many lives as possible.”
Xiao’s came after Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin thanked Australian authorities for their efforts in the search.
“Chinese and foreign vessels have arrived at relevant waters and the search and rescue operation is intensively underway,” Wang said on Wednesday.
“More help is on the way. We will continue to work together with relevant sides to do everything possible to find those who have gone missing.
“We would like to thank the Australian maritime search and rescue department for sending an aircraft and coordinating foreign vessels passing by to help with the search and rescue efforts.
“We hope countries nearby will continue to join our search and rescue efforts. We will not give up as long as there is still hope for saving lives.”
On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang ordered Chinese diplomats, as well as the agriculture and transportation ministries, to assist in the search for survivors.
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Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines have also expressed their willingness to join in the search, and merchant and fishing vessels in the area searched for survivors Wednesday.
The search authority said the multinational search effort was continuing Thursday over an area of 12,000 square kilometres south of where the upturned hull was found.
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An Australian military P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a chartered aircraft based in Perth would rejoin the search after spending the night in the Maldives, the authority said in a statement. Australia was liaising with the Chinese Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, with three Chinese naval ships continuing the search.
“A number of merchant ships and other vessels have been assisting with the search and will continue to do so today,” the statement said.
The authority would not reveal how many ships and aircraft were involved in the search.
“We are not supplying that level of detail at this stage,” the authority said in an email.
Transport Minister Catherine King, who is responsible for the search authority, was travelling overseas and was not available for comment, her office said.
No word was given on the cause of the capsizing.
The capsized boat, Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, was based in the eastern coastal province of Shandong, operated by the Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co. Ltd., according to reports.
Another Chinese vessel, Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018, is operating near the upturned hull and has been asked to conduct a grid search for survivors, according to Indonesian authorities.
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