2 punished for poor governance

Two former top officials with the Ministry of Civil Affairs have received disciplinary punishments including demotion and early retirement for failing to supervise subordinates, China's top graft watchdog said on Wednesday.

Li Liguo, former minister of civil affairs, and vice-minister Dou Yupei were held accountable for poor governance and negligence, and they also were responsible for large-scale corruption that occurred in the ministry, said a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.

The punishment of Li and Dou can be regarded as a landmark event that sends a signal that the central leadership will rule the Party more strictly regarding accountability, said Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the clean government research center at Peking University.