Former NBS chief sacked for scandal

By Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-10-19 10:59

Qiu Xiaohua, former chief of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is suspected of involvement in the pension fund scandal in Shanghai, Li Xiaochao, an NBS spokesman, said on Thursday in Beijing.

Qiu's case is still under investigation, he told a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.

"Relevant departments, when carrying out investigations into the Shanghai social security fund scandal, found out that Qiu was suspected of being involved in severe violations of party discipline," Li said.

"The central disciplinary office is now conducting an investigation into his involvement."

The Shanghai pension fund scandal led to the sacking of the municipality's top Party official Chen Liangyu last month.

This is the second press conference the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) held at the State Council Information Office within five weeks, the first one was given by Qiu himself.

The State Council removed Qiu Xiaohua from the post of director of the National Bureau of Statistics last week, replacing him with Xie Fuzhan, former deputy director of the cabinet's think-tank Development Research Centre.

The removal sparked widespread speculations about why Qiu was sacked. No explanation has been given since then. This is the first official explanation about Qiu's sacking.

Qiu served the position only half a year. He was appointed director of the National Bureau of Statistics this March to replace Li Deshui.

Born in 1958, Qiu Xiaohua is a native of East China's Fujian Province. He graduated from the department of Economics of Xiamen University in Fujian in 1982.

He served as chief economist and NBS spokesman between 1993 and 1998 and was appointed deputy director in 1999.

Xie Fuzhan, previously deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, was appointed new NBS director.

Xie promised self-discipline when making his first public speech at a symposium on October 13, emphasizing the NBS will redouble efforts to "improve the Party's work style and build a clean government".