Leading experts yesterday gathered in Beijing for an international symposium aimed at promoting greater global research to more effectively forecast sand and duststorms, a devastating phenomenon that causes havoc in many of the world's drought-prone regions.

Experts stated that only joint efforts among members of the international community can improve the regional and global research and monitoring of dust and sandstorm.

Addressing the opening ceremony for the three-day gathering, the first of its kind held in China in recent years, Qin Dahe, top official of China Meteorological Administration, said "the major theme of this symposium is to address the mechanism of outbreak and evolution of dust and sandstorms as well as the regional impact, and to exchange experiences so as to refine models of such disastrous events on a regional and global scale."

During the symposium, more than 150 meteorologists, including about 50 experts from abroad, "will also discuss how to strengthen surface and upper-air observations of the occurrence, as well as develop and improve monitoring and prediction methods," Qin said.

East Asia is a region that is prone to sand and duststorms. Such weather patterns have been frequent in the region in recent years. They tend to last longer, affect a wider area and cause a greater impact to the development of the economy and people's lives.

Soil lacking proper vegetation coverage is vulnerable to being picked up by strong winds which gives rise to sand and dust storms in drought-prone northwest China due to poor forest coverage, said a spokesman from the National Science Foundation of China.

Lu Zewei with the foundation warned that harm caused by such weather is no less severe to people, livestock and buildings than that which results from typhoons or tornadoes.

"Severe dust and sandstorms will severely affect crop yields as the soil surface is blown away by strong winds," he said.

Facing disasters brought by dust and sandstorms, humankind has to make choices between long-term and short-term benefits, as the impact from disastrous weather like dust and sandstorms is irreversible. He made it clear that conducting research into these phenomenon and combating desertification have become issues which cannot be neglected.

Promising that his foundation will continue to support scientific exploration and research on climate-related issues, the spokesman urged Chinese authorities and meteorologists to join hands and work together with their colleagues around the world to create a better living environment, a better climate and a better future.

China has made great strides in fighting to prevent such weather. The government has earmarked special funds for a large number of research projects with many encouraging results gained, according to Qin.

To date, more than 3,000 meteorological stations throughout China have been put into operation to closely watch dust and sandstorms directly and compile data collected from satellites and radar systems.

He said he hopes that the international forum will assist in pushing research and monitoring of sand and duststorms in more regions plagued by the disaster.