Proud elder son stands up for his father in the dock
Bo Xilai's elder son Li Wangzhi last night said he was proud of his father and believed "truth will stand the test of time". Speaking to the media for the first time in months, Li thanked the authorities for giving Bo "greater than expected" freedom to defend himself.
Bo Xilai's elder son Li Wangzhi last night said he was proud of his father and believed "truth will stand the test of time".
Speaking to the media for the first time in months, Li thanked the authorities for giving Bo "greater than expected" freedom to defend himself. He also thanked those people "who have faced tremendous pressure and acted on their conscience".
As his son, I share his pain. But at the same time, I feel proud of his perseverance and strong will. After 500 gruelling days ... he has stood up against tremendous pressure but still upholds his belief
The comments came from Li in a statement handed to the South China Morning Post after the end of the first day of the trial.
Li, born to Bo's first wife Li Danyu , attended the first day of the trial at the Jinan Intermediate People's Court in Shandong yesterday, where the disgraced princeling put up a vigorous defence against the corruption charges against him.
No court case has attracted greater interest since the Gang of Four were tried in 1980. It was also the first time that Li had seen his father since his grandfather, Bo Yibo, died in 2007.
"As his son, I share his pain. But at the same time, I feel proud of his perseverance and strong will," Li said.