Second Chinese—Lebanese Symposium Held in Beijing

Chinese scholars also responded to the above opinion in their respective speeches. Niu Xinchun， Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies under China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations， said China's position on Arab issues was based on its national interests and historical ex- perience that democracy， stability and economic development were comple- mentary and， in the long run， reform from top to bottom was more beneficial to the nation's sustainable and stable development， as well as continuation of its culture and history， than revolution from bottom to top. This opinion was affirmed by the Lebanese delegates.