Former senior Beijing political adviser stands trial in Jilin

A former senior political adviser in Beijing accused of taking bribes stood trial on Thursday at a court in Northeast China's Jilin province.

Prosecutors from the Changchun People's Procuratorate in Jilin accused Li Shixiang, 60, of using his power in multiple positions in Beijing from 2001-2013 and colluding with other government employees to assist associates in construction projects, real estate development and job promotions.

They said Li received more than 88 million yuan ($12.8 million) from bribes.

Li confessed to all of the accusations and on his trial's conclusion at the Changchun Intermediate People's Court said he regrets what he did, according to the report.

The court said it will pronounce judgment on a later day.

A Beijing native, Li was born in September 1958 and started his career in August 1978 as a middle school teacher in Beijing's Tongzhou district.

He was later admitted to the district's Communist Party of China committee and then moved up through the ranks.

In 2003 Li was appointed Party chief of Beijing's Chaoyang district, one of the most prosperous regions in the capital city, and three years later was promoted to be a member of the standing committee of the Beijing Party committee, the city's top authority.

In July 2012, he was named executive vice-mayor of Beijing. In January 2017, he became vice-chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Eight months later, the Party's anti-corruption watchdog announced that Li had been put to internal investigation for alleged violations of Party regulations and national laws.

Li was expelled from the Party in February.