Strongest sandstorm in decade engulfs northern China

Though China has witnessed fewer sandstorms in recent years thanks to sustained efforts made in afforestation and combating desertification, Zhang Bihui with the NMC said a severe and sweeping sandstorm could still occur under extremely bad atmospheric conditions.

"On one hand, we should continue the greening and anti-desertification efforts and improve overall ecological environment", he said. "On the other hand, we will enhance monitoring and forecast work to better serve the public."

In 1978, China launched the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. The afforestation project covers 13 provincial-level regions in the north, northeast and northwest and equates to 42.4 percent of the country's total land area.

Over the past more than 40 years, about 7.88 million hectares of windbreak trees have been planted, 336,000 square kilometers of desertified land has been managed and more than 10 million hectares of grassland has been protected and restored, according to a report released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Xinhua contributed to the story.