A delegation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment led by Deputy Minister Bui Cach Tuyen has paid a working visit to the French coastal city of Brest.

During the visit from March 15-17, the delegation worked with local research centres and businesses involved in marine environmental protection, management and monitoring.

The French partners introduced cooperation projects with Vietnam, including the project on coastal management along with the port city of Hai Phong, and the project to monitor sea environments and environmental pollution in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Earlier, the French CLS Company, specialising in satellite monitoring, signed a contract worth 14 million EUR with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide fishing boat monitoring equipment.

Brest city has also maintained close cooperation and carried out a number of projects with Vietnam in Hai Phong and Nha Trang.

In 2008, Vietnam was France’s honorary guest at the Brest Maritime Festival. The French city hopes to see Vietnam again at later Brest Maritime Festival and a conference on localities’ cooperation to be hosted by Brest in 2013, Brest authorities said./.