On July 23, 2012, Hu Jintao gave a  speech at an event held for provincial department level leaders. Xinhua carried an article reporting on the feedback that the democratic parties and members of non-party organizations in China gave after studying the key messages in the speech. The article asserted that those organizations put their trust in Hu’s leadership in leading the Chinese people to overcome both the serious challenges they face and the complicated and ever changing international environment. The article also reported that these organizations applauded Hu’s direction on walking the socialist development path with Chinese characteristics and the scientific development concept and vowed to be united around the leadership head of the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: Xinhua, July 28, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-07/28/c_112557822.htm

China Economic Weekly carried an article that was originally from a People’s Daily news report. The report stated that it has become a trend for Communist Party branches to establish themselves in foreign investment enterprises in China. It started with the establishment of a Party branch in Wal-Mart in 2006. After that, more and more foreign enterprises have embraced the trend. Radio Free Asia interviewed Tang Jitian, a lawyer in Beijing on his reaction to the article.

According to Tang Jitian, on the one hand, this is a natural reaction for the Party; it is trying to exercise a tighter grip as it is losing control of society. On the other hand, for foreign companies to allow the establishment of Party branches within the company shows that they have chosen to compromise and give in to the hidden rules because they want to survive in China. “… once these foreign companies get deeply involved in doing business in China, they soon realize that, on the surface, they are dealing with some administrative or legal entities. However, the entity that has the real power and is in control is the Party, especially key personnel as well as different Party organizations.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/sd-07172012182534.html

On July 23, 2012, Hu Jintao spoke at the opening of a special symposium held for provincial Party leaders. The entire Politburo, including all nine members, attended the opening. In his remarks, Hu stated, “We face unprecedented opportunities as well as unprecedented challenges.” He further indicated that there have been great changes within the Party. “The external risks are unprecedented.” There are many urgent problems that need to be solved.

Source: Xinhua, July 23, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2012-07/23/c_123457270.htm

On July 26, 2012, Xinhua reported that the Hefei Municipal Procuratorate (the state prosecutor’s office) in Anhui Province charged Gu Kailai, the wife of Politburo member Bo Xilai, along with a family aide named Zhang, with intentional homicide in the case of the deceased British businessman, Neil Heywood. The two were charged at the Hefei Intermediate People’s Court after “prosecutors interrogated them and spoke to their defense team.” Xinhua stated that the investigation showed that Gu and Zhang poisoned Heywood due to a business conflict between Gu and Heywood that also involved Gu’s son. Gu believed Heywood was threatening her son. "The facts of the two defendants’ crime are clear and the evidence is irrefutable and substantial. Therefore, the two defendants should be charged with intentional homicide and held accountable for their criminal liability."

Source: Xinhua, July 26, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-07/26/c_112544655.htm