China‘s leaders put on a show of unity on Saturday after their damning accusations against disgraced politician Bo Xilai, whose expulsion from the Communist Party drew an outcry from leftist supporters in a sign of the rifts his prosecution could inflame.
On Saturday evening, top leaders gathered in the cavernous national parliament building for a National Day reception, their first public appearance since the revelation of the accusations against Bo. Premier Wen Jiabao did not mention Bo or any other controversies in his remarks to hundreds of diplomats, officials and other guests. “Looking ahead, we are full of confidence,” Wen told them, adding that “no hardship will prevent us from forging ahead”.
The eight other members of the Politburo Standing Committee – the party’s innermost core of power – also attended.
looking beyond borders 