New Delhi, Jan 25 : France today agreed to facilitate an early establishment of an Indian Cultural Centre in Paris.

"India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in the fields of education, culture, tourism and scientific research," stated an India-France joint statement issued here today after visiting French President Nicholas Sarkozy held talks in Delhi.

The two sides decided to foster exchange of students, along with creation of joint international laboratories, cooperation on technologies for water management and the establishment of an Indo-French University Consortium.

To promote wide-ranging people-to-people contacts, both countries agreed to the reciprocal opening of Consulates in each other's territory. France will open new Consulates in Kolkata and Bangalore this year. (ANI)