What’s new: Xiao Yaqing, a former minister overseeing China’s industry and technology development, was expelled from the Communist Party for bribery, the country’s top graft buster said.
Xiao, the minister of industry and information technology from 2020 to July this year, was accused of “accepting banquet invitations that might have affected the fair execution of his official duties” and “taking a large amount of cash bribes,” the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said Monday in a statement.
Xiao, 63, was demoted to one of the lowest official ranks and sent into retirement, according to the statement. No prosecution against Xiao was announced.
Xiao was granted leniency as he had admitted wrongdoing, showed regret and handed over all illegal income, the CCDI said.
Background: The party investigation of Xiao was announced in July.
Xiao, a veteran of China’s aluminum and metallurgy industry, was named minister of industry and information technology in July 2020. During his tenure, Xiao actively promoted China’s development of internet of things, digital infrastructure, new generations of wireless communications and electric cars.
Previously, Xiao headed state-owned aluminum giant Aluminum Corp. of China before he became the chief of the State Council’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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