(IRTCES News, May 19, 2006): the Standing Member of the Board of Enjoy Montpellier, Mr. Francois Barbance and Director of the Market Development Division, Mr. Alain Formentin visited the IRTCES. Dr. Liu Cheng of the IRTCES briefed them about the IRTCE, discussed possible aspects of cooperation, and explored the possibility of hosting international symposium on river sedimentation in France.

Mr. Francois Barbance and Mr. Alain Formentin came to China along with a delegation headed by the Mayor of the Montpellier Municipal Government. This city expected to expand cooperation and exchange in multiple fields with China through the visit.

Montpellier is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea west-northwest of Marseille. Founded in the eighth century, it was purchased by Philip VI of Fance in 1349. The city was later a Huguenot centre and was besieged and captured by Louis XIII in 1622. Its current population is approximately 238,000.

Situated midway between Spain and Italy on the French Mediterranean coast, Montpellier is at the heart of southern Europe’s high-growth, high-technology sunbelt. Montpellier is above all a university city, with 3 universities and several technical and graduate colleges, representing an attractive combination of youth and a high level of education. In June 1981, the protocol of sister city between Chengdu and Montpeller was signed. This is the first sister city relationship established between China and France.