RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil and France will sign a cooperation agreement on defense and nuclear energy on Dec. 23, after months of negotiations, Brazilian media reported Tuesday.

    The agreement will envision the construction of five submarines for Brazil, one of which will be propelled by nuclear energy.

    France will be in charge of the submarines' construction, while the part involving nuclear energy will be built by Brazil, with French technical cooperation.

    In the civilian sector, the two sides will cooperate in building a satellite network to cover the Amazon rainforest region to monitor air traffic and deforestation.

    France will also help Brazil build six to eight nuclear power plants.