New Delhi: France has said it would find a "solution" to the concerns voiced by the Sikh community following passage of a law that prohibits all religious symbols in public schools.

"I believe we are going to find the solution. I have high hopes, since we are all keen to find this solution. We will find it and I think, it will, obviously, take account of everyone's aspirations," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told TV channel 'France 2'.

Sikhs have said if the law comes into force, turbans worn by students to schools would be banned.

Observing that around 5,000 Sikhs were living in France for many years, he said they had fought alongside France and supported it during the two World Wars, according to a French Embassy release in New Delhi.

"So we have an extremely strong relationship with them. We have, moreover, deep respect for their religion, their culture, and we want, in the framework of the Act currently under preparation, to find solution capable of addressing their concerns," said Villepin, who was in India last week.

Recalling meetings with minorities' panel chief Tarlochan Singh and Sikh groups in New Delhi, he said French Government would meet Sikh representatives in the next few weeks.

"We want through dialogue to find a way of addressing their concerns. They clearly understand the specific issue for France, this requirement for an Act on secularity. We will find ways and means of satisfying the requirement for this French secularity and, at the same time, the need to allay their concerns," he said.