Chongqing Communist Party head Bo Xilai - mired in controversy following the detention of his former right-hand man - made a high-profile public appearance on Thursday, meeting a business delegation led by former Macau chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah.
Political analysts said it was an indication that Bo was unlikely to be removed before the 18th party congress this autumn.
The meeting with Ho, a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Macau tycoons accompanying him, was the first time that Bo had received guests in public since rumours earlier this week that he had submitted his resignation to the Politburo.
Bo reiterated his achievements in improving the southwestern municipality's security, economy and social welfare, the Chongqing Daily reported yesterday.
After the meeting, Bo treated Ho and his other Macau guests to a 'red song' concert on Thursday night featuring performances by Chongqing's 13 red choirs, the newspaper said.
'Our people love our country and treasure our excellent history and culture. It's the perennial passion to keep our country strong,' Bo told Ho. 'We Chinese should have vehement patriotism and let it root deeply in the rich soil of our national culture. It's the function of our 'red song' campaign.'