As part of the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) 2005, a briefing session was organized on 25 March 2005 to present the findings and recommendations that have emerged from the ADB-GEF Regional Technical Assistance Project for Prevention and Control of Dust and Sandstorms. These findings and recommendations have been documented in a three-volume master plan for regional cooperation.

The main recommendations of the master plan include:

(i) establishment of a regional monitoring and early warning network for dust and sandstorms in North-East Asia: and

(ii) prevention and mitigation of dust and sandstorms through pilot demonstration projects in their source of origin. Representatives of the four project participation agencies, ADB, UNCCD, UNEP and ESCAP, confirmed their readiness to participate in the implementation stage of the regional master plan to further promote regional cooperation in addressing the problem. The meeting noted that immediate coordinated action should be undertaken by the respective governments and other national and regional stakeholders. The meeting also called for support from the wider international community, the private sector, and civil society in this regional endeavor.