Former high official admits taking bribes

Sun Huaishan, a former senior political adviser, pleaded guilty to taking bribes of 39.75 million yuan ($6.23 million), the intermediate people's court in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, announced on Wednesday.

Sun, 65, was formerly a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and head of the Committee for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Compatriots and Overseas Chinese of the CPPCC National Committee.

Sun is accused of taking advantage of his posts to seek profits for certain businesses and individuals. He helped secure land-use rights, approvals for business operations, project approvals and promotions of personnel while serving as director of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, deputy secretary-general and Standing Committee member of the CPPCC National Committee and member of Communist Party of China Central Committee from 1994 to 2016, according to the indictment by the Hulun Buir people's procuratorate.