Former vice-governor pleads guilty to accepting bribes

Feng Xinzhu, former vice governor of northwest China's Shaaxi province, pleaded guilty to taking more than 70 million yuan ($10.3 million) in bribes, a court in Zhejiang province has said.

Prosecutors said during the trial on Thursday that Zhao took advantage of his positions, such as chairman of an electricity enterprise in Shaaxi and mayor of Tongchuan, to ask for money after offering "aid" to people and departments.

The aid came in the form of project investment, fund loans, mining development and personnel promotions between 1999 and 2017, according to the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang.

The total Zhao received was more than 70.47 million yuan, the prosecutors added.

The defendant was given the right of defense during the hearing and he showed regret in his final statement.

The court said the ruling would be announced at a later date.

Feng, 58, a native of Shaanxi, began his career in 1981 and was named the province's vice-governor in 2015.

He was under investigation in January last year for "severe disciplinary violations". In November he was accused of accepting bribes.