Two senior officials expelled from CPC

Two former senior officials from China's State-owned enterprises have been expelled from the Communist Party of China for serious violations of discipline and the law, according to China's anti-graft watchdog.

Tang Shuangning, former Party chief and chairman of financial conglomerate China Everbright Group, has weakened the Party's leadership within the group and failed to prevent financial risks, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission said in a statement on Saturday.

Tang, 69, was also found taking publications with severe political issues inbound and using his influence to promote his calligraphy works, the statement said.

It added that Tang also took a large amount of bribes including famous calligraphy pieces and paintings as well as cash to help others get loans and promotions. Furthermore, Tang who was fond of seeking pleasures has even accepted "butler-style" services.

Tang, former deputy chairman of the former China Banking Regulatory Commission became the chairman of the China Everbright Group in June 2007. He retired in December 2017.

Xu Wenrong, former deputy Party chief and deputy general manager of China National Petroleum Corporation has been corrupted by power and overcome by trying to climb up the ladder through political swindlers. He has no respect to discipline and law, CCDI said in another statement released on Saturday.

Xu, 62, has been abusing his power in the petroleum sector to accept a large amount of bribes. He also helped to list his relatives as employees of companies invested by State-owned enterprises so they can receive salaries without having to work, according to the statement.

Xu started working in the petroleum sector in 1997 and was appointed as the deputy general manager of China National Petroleum Corporation in January 2016.

Cracking down on corruption in State-owned enterprises was listed as a priority for the anti-graft bodies in 2023 at a CCDI meeting in January, when they were described as the "ballast" of the economy.