MOSCOW, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Lawmakers of Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, spoke highly of China's newly-approved anti-secession law on Monday, saying China has the right to safeguard its territorial integrity.

    China has the legitimate right to safeguard its territorial integrity due to the international community's recognition of the country's sovereignty over Taiwan, said Andrei Kokoshin, chairman of the Committee on Relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States and Ethnic Russians in Other Countries.

    He added that the Chinese leadership has been striving for a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue.

    Vladimir Zhirinovsky, vice-chairman of the State Duma, said theTaiwanese authorities should agree to a solution for the issue in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems."

    Also on Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia understands China's anti-secession law on resolving the Taiwan issue.

    Moscow opposes "Taiwan independence" in whatever form and rejects the concept of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," the statement said. Enditem