PARIS, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Overseas Chinese in France have expressed strong support for the newly passed Anti-Secession Law in China, calling the law well-timed and important.

    The Nouvelles d'Europe published a commentary on Tuesday, saying the Anti-Secession Law will be a legal foundation and spiritual weapon for China to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and fight any separatist activities.

    The fact that the law received wide support from overseas Chinese in Europe immediately after its passage on Monday by the National People's Congress, China's legislature, demonstrates its importance for the Chinese people's life, the commentary said.

    Although many overseas Chinese have been working with their compatriots at home through various means in fighting "Taiwan independence" from the motherland, they still have great concerns over the rampant separatist activities in recent years, it said.

    The Anti-Secession Law is a product of the times and conforms with the common will of the Chinese people both at home and abroad,the newspaper said.

    The law has also got the understanding of the international community, for all nations in the world will do the same on issuesrelated to state sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

    The strong self-esteem and national feelings showed by the Chinese people in preventing Taiwan from being separated from China will win the understanding and support of all peoples in theworld, it added.

    Meanwhile, a total of 23 overseas Chinese associations in France, including the Association for Promoting the Peaceful Reunification of China in France, on Monday issued a joint statement voicing their firm support for the law.

    The statement said that the law reflects the utmost sincerity of the Chinese people for peaceful unification.

    The statement said the law also represents a great deterrence to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, indicating that their separatist actions are not to be tolerated and are doomed tofailure.

    The overseas Chinese in France will do their utmost for the peaceful reunification of China, it said. Enditem