BEIJING, March 20 -- Talks between the Ministry of Transport and the State Oceanic Administration have taken place over the possibility of sending China's research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong to search for the missing MH370 airplane, an official said Thursday.

The plan was discussed after Australian authorities said earlier Thursday that two objects, with the large one about 24 meters long, had been spotted in the southern Indian Ocean on satellite imagery.

Vice minister of transport He Jianzhong said that Xuelong was the closest Chinese vessel to the suspected waters. However, it is expected to take five days for the vessel to arrive at the site if the plan is confirmed, he said.

No Chinese merchant ships are sailing across the suspected waters, which are far from the merchant ships' sailing courses, he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center has contacted Australia's search forces and will closely follow relevant news and make necessary adjustments to China's search plans.

The Xuelong is a scientific research vessel and icebreaker used in China's Antarctic research.