Ex-statistics chief, senior lawmaker expelled from CPC

Wang Baoan, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics

Wang Baoan, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics, has expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from public office, the country’s top anti-graft watchdog said on Friday.

Wang, 53, was vice-minister of finance before he was appointed as head of the bureau in April 2015, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He was put under investigation for “serious violations of discipline” by the CCDI in January.

On Feb 22, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, announced that Wang was relieved from his post.

“With absolutely no political beliefs, Wang chronically conducted superstitious activities and seriously violated the Party’s political discipline and rules. He also made speeches that went against the CPC Central Committee on key issues,” the commission said.

It said he “countered investigation” and disobeyed an eight-point code to cut bureaucracy and maintain close ties with the people, and visited high-end hotels and expensive entertainment venues.

Wang had taken advantage of his position to assist the promotion and reassignment of others, facilitate his relatives’ economic activities and had accepted bribes, the commission said.

Wang’s illicit gains have been confiscated, and criminal evidence and facts have been handed over to judiciary authorities, it said.

In another development, Zheng Yuzhuo, a senior legislator in Northeast China’s Liaoning province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from all public posts for corruption charges and electoral fraud.

The decision was approved by the CPC Central Committee, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced on Friday.

It said Zheng, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress, was found to have accepted bribes and been involved in buying votes in elections.

The announcement didn’t give details.

The CCDI found that Zheng had seriously violated Party discipline rules. He was alleged to have solicited bribes, engaged in buying votes and instructed others to rig elections.

Zheng’s case will be handed over to judiciary departments, according to the CCDI.

Zheng, 60, spent most of his career in transportation and financial sectors i n Liaoning.

former deputy head of the Liaoning provincial legislature Adili Wuxor, a famous Chinese tightrope walker, performs at the Dayu Cultural Park Scenic Zone in Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Friday. It took one and a half hours for Adili and his disciple to finish walking the 1,800-meter tightrope.