Former disciplinary chief dies from illness at age 85

Wei Jianxing, a former head of China's top anti-graft body, died from an illness in Beijing at 8 am on Friday, according to an official announcement.

Wei, 85, was praised in the statement as an excellent Party member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, a proletarian revolutionist, statesman and an outstanding leader of the Party and the state.

Wei, who headed the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, was also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.