Party expels retired official

Cao Baijun, a retired official with the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has been expelled from the Party for severe discipline violations, it was announced on Saturday. According to a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Cao offered “consultancy” to companies while in office in exchange for payment, was engaged in profitable activities related to his former position after retirement, and is suspected of accepting bribes. Born in 1954, Cao served as a bureau chief of the International Department from 2007 until his retirement in 2012. His retirement benefits have been canceled, the CCDI said.